A FORMER Worcester Mayor has won support for attacking people who cough and sneeze without covering their faces - with the public calling it "ignorant" and "vile".

As your Worcester News revealed on Friday, Councillor Alan Amos has accused too many people of willingly spreading germs by being too lazy to cover up, labelling it "appalling behaviour".

The outspoken councillor even revealed how he stops people and gives them a ticking off when he sees them doing it, in a bid to stop germs spreading.

People across the county have since contacted this newspaper to say they agree with his view.

Shirley Francis, 78, of Langdale Drive, Warndon, Worcester said: "I think he's absolutely correct, people are ignorant about this.

"You'd have to be crackers to disagree with anything he said, it's a dirty habit."

Raymond Roberts, of Rose Avenue, Tolladine, said: "It's not just Worcester, people do this all over the place.

"It'd be much better everywhere if we all thought about it."

Lisa Barnwell, 50, of Ronkswood, said: "It's the most sensible thing anyone could say at this time of year.

"I think it's disgusting how people spread germs everywhere, if the NHS said it like he (Councillor Amos) did maybe more people would take notice.

"I'm glad he had the guts to say it - it drives me mad, it's vile.

"Did he word it strongly, yes I think he did but what matters is what's being said.

"I take a handkerchief everywhere but I never, ever see other people in Worcester with one."

Others said they agreed that most germs are spread due to poor personal hygiene.

Heather Kelly, of The Limes, Kempsey, said: "I was amused to read it in the paper.

"I remember a few years ago my late husband went into the toilet at the Guildhall, and saw the Mayor at the time coming out of a cubicle and not washing his hands.

"Ugh - think of all the hands he had to shake."

As well as the phone calls of support your Worcester News has also had several emails and voicemail messages over the weekend backing him up, with not one message saying he was wrong to voice his concern.

One letter writer, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "The best way to catch a spray of snot is to attend a doctor's waiting room - however there are other places for these vile practices.

"I was once in a superstore after some lunch from the sandwich chilled section.

"Having luckily made a selection and turned away I heard this heavy cough, spun around to see a woman wipe the back of her hand across her face, only for that hand to proceed back to the sandwiches selection."

Another anonymous caller, a pensioner who suffers from asthma, said she wanted to "congratulate him on the way he put it".

"I have a 'paddy' over this myself, when I see people coughing in town I walk the other way but I get sick and tired of having to do it," she said.

Councillor Amos said germs spread across buses, trains and even restaurants because too many people don't cover their faces when they cough and sneeze.

He even told about going home for a shower one day after a women on a bus sneezed all over the back of his neck - calling it "dirty and disgusting".

The harsh criticism has led to Public Health England re-publicising advice on always covering up any spluttering, and washing hands regularly.

* Have a look at our story from last Friday HERE.