Jim fixes it for superbug study

Sir Jimmy donated the money after reading the BBC News website

Veteran disc jockey Sir Jimmy Savile has "fixed it" for researchers trying to combat the hospital bug MRSA.

Sir Jimmy has donated £40,000 to the team from the University of Manchester who are investigating how aromatherapy can kill the deadly bacteria.

They claim three essential oils can kill MRSA as well as the E.coli bug, but money is needed for trials.

Sir Jimmy, from Leeds, donated the money after reading about the possible breakthrough on the BBC News website.

Researchers say the oils could be easily blended and made into soaps and shampoos to be used by hospital staff to stop the spread of MRSA.

The bug kills an estimated 5,000 people a year according to the National Audit Office.

Dr Peter Warn said the gift meant a research nurse could be employed to carry out a trial at the cancer-specialist Christie Hospital in Manchester.

"Obviously people are very keen to find out what the three oils are we are using, however until the trial has been completed we won't be able to release this information," he said.