A YEAR after 30 talking, life-size cardboard cut-outs of nurses were placed at the entrances to wards at Lincoln County Hospital, just a few remain.

The inventive gimmick which uses battery- powered voice boxes to tell visitors and staff to clean their hands was introduced to Lincolnshire's hospitals by NHS East Midlands in a bid to combat superbugs including MRSA and C-difficile.

But less than a fortnight after they were introduced, the Echo reported that many of the 'nurses' had been daubed with graffiti and vandalised.

Some pranksters had even recorded TV theme tunes over the recorded superbug-busting message.

Anna Temple, spokesman for United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust, said: "The nurses were given to us by NHS East Midlands as part of a campaign last year.

"They were a one-off which hasn't been repeated.

"There are still a few out on our wards, but they are disposed of as they show wear and tear.

"I'm not aware of any more being vandalised."