POLICE officers have urged Prestwich residents to ignore a spate of anti-vaccination literature that has been posted through letterboxes.

The leaflets, which are titled: 'Proof that face masks do more harm than good' and 'How many people are the vaccines killing?' are credited to the conspiracy theorist, anti-vaccination activist, AIDS denier, blogger and novelist, Dr Vernon Coleman.

The largely self-published British writer has denied the existence of HIV/AIDS and in 2019 authored a book aimed at discrediting trust in vaccines.

A qualified and practicing general practitioner in the 1970s, Coleman is no longer licensed to practice medicine. The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority has also repeatedly taken issue with how Coleman’s work is advertised and promoted.

A statement on GMP Bury South's Facebook page, said: "Anti-vaccine literature has been distributed around the Prestwich area.

"The Local Authority has requested the public to dismiss the message being sent out and is encouraging all relevant age groups to take up the offer of a vaccine.

"If you have any questions about the Covid vaccine please visit the NHS website or consult with your local GP."