RESIDENTS are being warned to not take antibiotics when they don't need them as it stops the drugs from working.

Public Health England have issued the warning as part of their 'Keep Antibiotics Working' campaign to raise awareness of inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions.

Antibiotics are undoubtedly essential in treating serious bacterial infections but are being frequently used to treat illnesses such as the common cold, cough, earache and sore throats - all of which get better without medication.

Taking antibiotics encourages harmful bacteria to become 'resistant' meaning they will not work when they are really needed.

As this resistance increases common procedures such as caesareans and hip replacements could become life-threatening without antibiotics to ward off infections.

Cancer patients are also much more vulnerable if antibiotics don’t work as both cancer and chemotherapy treatments reduce the immune systems ability to fight infections.

Wirral cabinet member for Adult Care and Health Cllr Christine Jones said: "Many people assume that antibiotics are a ‘cure all’, but they’re not.

"Antibiotics won’t cure the common cold but taking them inappropriately could prevent you from getting better further down the line.”

For more information visit www.nhs.uk/antibiotics