SCIENTISTS say they believe experiments in a children's magazine could produce extremely dangerous bacteria which could make people very ill.

Notices have gone out to schools in Gwent asking teachers to alert parents to the dangers contained in the suggested experiments in issue six of Horrible Science magazine titled Hidden Horrors in the Home.

Dr Peter Borrows of the Schools Science Service at Brunel University said that in his opinion, the experiments were potentially dangerous and colleagues had written to the publishers Eaglemoss in London pointing this out.

"What the magazine suggests is that swabs are taken with cotton buds from places such as a toilet handle, inside a dog's ear and inside the child's mouth," he said.

"The samples are then transferred to the free agar and petri dish for the growth of bacterial cultures. I think this is extremely dangerous and could cause serious disease as you will be giving the little bugs ideal growing conditions."

Dr Burrows said the activities would not be allowed in schools as they would not comply with safety standards. If a child or parent became infected as a result of the experiment they could sue the publishers.

He added: "The publishers have had a letter from us explaining the problems in detail. We have suggested they put a correction and a warning in future issues, but we haven't heard back."

Dr John Grainger chairman of the Microbiology in Schools Advisory Committee said there was no way of making sure the child did not touch what was growing in the dish.

"The lid should be taped on as bacteria such as Campalabacta or Escheria coli (E.coli) could easily be grown and they would cause serious stomach disorders.

"I am furious about this sort of publication as it is ignorant to the dangers and would not be acceptable in schools, where there are strict controls, let alone in homes. There is no correct advice on how to dispose of the petri dish when the experiment is ended. I am dismayed at what has been published."

Dr Sue Assinder, Education Officer for the Society for General Microbiology, said she thought the experiment was appalling and the society was writing to Eaglemoss Publications.

"It's just horrid to think children could be exposed to dangers including a staphylococcus equivalent to MRSA," she said.

"There is a real danger of children touching what they have grown. Most secondary school teachers are too nervous to conduct this type of experiment and here we have horrors being grown in the home. My advice to anyone would be to bag it and bin it if the experiments have been started."

Despite several telephone calls from the Argus, nobody at Eaglemoss Publications was available for comment.