YESTERDAY, the Courant published an article about a strange piece of health news.

Rather than the usual doom and gloom, however, readers of the article found much mirth within its words.

The subject of the article was a new way coronavirus might be spreading across the country.

We reported: 'A number of UK government ministers have expressed concern over the possibility of coronavirus spreading through flatulence.

'Tests have shown that Covid-19 can spread through faecal matter however there is no definitive science to say whether flatulence could spread the disease responsible for a global health crisis.

'One minister, who was not named, told The Telegraph that there is “credible-looking stuff on it”.'

Despite such a usually morbid topic, our readers were quick to jump on the absurdity of the news.

Nige Wibble said: "I wonder how long before shops and supermarkets have signs saying 'All bums must be covered' at the door."

Scarlet Musgrave said: "We have reached the zenith of COVID-related news articles."

Hexham Courant:

Every reaction but one to the article was of laughter and many of the comments were made by people exercising their funny bones.  There was, of course, a lot of tagging of friends or partners.

Someone suggested we might have posted this at the wrong time of year and maybe April 1 would have been more appropriate.

There were different approaches to the humour.  "Best lay off the sprouts for a while then," joked David Smart.

John Condisine was a bit more worried: "I better self isolate for the next 50 years I guess."

Peter Charleton and John Howdon had the same joke but only one version is publishable by the Courant.

Mr Charleton said: "What a load of hot air!"

Mr Howdon's comment can be left up to the imagination.

Although the reports were few and in their early days, the Government took it more seriously than many of our readers.

A spokesman said: "We keep the latest scientific evidence under review."

With many restrictions lifted in England and dates being set in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, as well as cases still falling, maybe more good news is on the horizon for the budding comedians reading the Courant.