DRIVERS who have damaged windscreens replaced or repaired at the Bristol branch of National Mobile Windscreens at St Philips Road, will have their windscreen washer fluid checked and filled to help prevent the risk of them catching the potentially fatal Legionnaire's Disease.

The action follows a report by the Health Protection Agency that stale warm water in the windscreen washer system may be the cause of 20 per cent of the cases of the disease in England and Wales.

Stagnant warm water is a breeding ground for the bacterium which, when inhaled, can cause pneumonia. But the threat is removed by adding a screen wash liquid.

Research found that professional drivers are five times more likely to be infected, mostly those aged over 50 and most commonly in men.

The early symptoms are similar to flu with tiredness, headaches, muscle aches, dry cough and fever. It is fatal in around 10-15 per cent of patients.

The researchers found that those most at risk were those who drove or travelled in vans, those who drove through industrial areas, and those who spent a lot of time in the car or who often had the car window open.

The Bristol branch phone number is 0117 304 2020.