An extra-strong disinfectant could help hospitals beat superbugs which affect thousands of patients each year.

The sterilising liquid is strong enough to clean surfaces and surgical instruments, but it does not harm eyes or skin, and could even be drunk safely.

Its developers, Chester-based Medipure Ltd, say it is better than previous "super disinfectants" because it does not have any hazardous side-effects.

MRSA would be killed by this technology Jim Daly

Medipure say their Suprox liquids can kill bugs including E.coli, salmonella and tuberculosis bacterium.

The liquid is a sodium chloride solution which is activated with an electrical charge.

'Can kill anthrax'

Jim Daly, a chemist and chemical engineer who is leading the research into the super-disinfectant, said the liquid could have many uses.

"We can see so many applications for it, from medical to horticultural and even in animal husbandry."

He told BBC News Online: "It is a very powerful disinfectant which is capable of killing anthrax and it's very useful for sterilising surgical instruments.

"And MRSA would be killed by this technology."

This liquid will kill the superbugs that cause such damage to hospitals Nesta spokesman

Dr Daly said: "The thing is that you can't become immune to this. It totally destroys the cell wall of the micro-organism, it doesn't just gently affect the DNA."

He said there had been interest from the NHS in using it in hospitals in infection control areas.

"Eighty per cent of dust is dead skin. Micro-organisms live on dust.

"With our system, hospitals will even be able to wet the curtains around the beds - a major source of infection in our view - without damaging them, killing the micro-organisms present."

'Holy Grail'

There have been previous types of "super-disinfectants" designed to kill micro-organisms.

But they were expensive and could corrode the metallic surgical instruments.

Existing disinfectants have been linked to skin conditions and asthma.

Dr Daly and Medipure have been awarded �112,000 for the research by Nesta, the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts.

Dr Daly added that the Nesta grant had enabled the company to look for the 'Holy Grail' - "a liquid that will kill superbugs but is safe for humans and animals."

The company is developing a washer-disinfector device to clean endoscopes using the technology.

A product could be available as early as April next year.