Xmas decorations could harbour FIVE TIMES as many germs as toilet seat

If you're tempted to tuck into a mince pie after hanging some baubles, you might want to wash your hands first.

Christmas decorations could harbour five times as many germs as the average toilet seat, swab tests of items including trees, wreaths and lights have revealed.

Many of the festive ornaments exceeded what experts consider to be within the normal range of biological contamination – often by up to 30 per cent.

More than two-thirds of the decorations came back with a reading of over 500 units – indicating a high level of contamination – and some displayed readings of over 1,000 units.

Those with the highest levels of microbial contamination were harbouring five times more than a typical toilet seat.

Of all the items swabbed, artificial Christmas tree boxes were the worst on average, with readings of around 845 units.

The tests were conducted using an ATP bioluminescence reader to detect levels of biological life not visible to the human eye.

Jamie Woodhall, of Initial Washroom Hygiene, which conducted the research, said: 'Many of us enjoying putting up decorations with a mince pie or drink in hand and decorations [are] often passed from one person to another as they are unpacked and hung up.

'With 80 per cent of all infections transmitted through hands, this can lead to the passing on of illness.'

He added: 'No one wants their Christmas celebrations ruined by a seasonal bug. 

'It's advisable to take precautions such as wiping down decorations with an antibacterial cloth and for everyone to wash and dry their hands before joining the fun.'