An intelligent food wrapping known as ‘intelligent plastics’ alerts people when there is a risk of food damaging beyond its ‘best before’ date or has been poorly refrigerated.

It also alerts people if sealed packaging has been broken or damaged, putting the contents at risk.

The British scientists believes that it will reduce unnecessary household wastes and help in cutting around 8.3million tons of food being disposed off in the UK every year.

Hospitals have cancelled non-emergency operations as there is rise in serious swine flu cases.

There are currently 35 people in critical care in Merseyside and Cheshire with flu.

The cancellation step of operations was taken so that more beds could be available for seriously-ill respiratory patients.

Health chiefs are refusing to reveal the toll of people died with swine flu, but at least eight more people have fallen ill with flu in the region so far.

They include teenager Olivia Rae clee-Barnett, from Wirral and mother of two Kay Burdett, from Old Swan.