Two CCGs have seen a month-on-month reduction in GP prescribing of antibiotics since the launch of the Antibiotic Guardian campaign last year.

The total antibiotic prescribing has decreased by 6% for NHS Greater Huddersfield and 8% for NHS North Kirklees CCG when comparing October - December 2015 to the same period in 2014.

Both CCG’s encouraged all GPs in their member practices to only prescribe antibiotics where they are really needed.

The Antibiotic Guardian campaign has received pledges from more than 28,000 members of the public and the medical community.

Signatories are asked to choose one simple pledge about how they will make better use of antibiotics.

Dr Steve Ollerton, clinical leader of NHS Greater Huddersfield CCG and a local GP said: "I would like to thank GPs and patients for supporting the Antibiotic Guardian campaign to only use antibiotics when necessary.

“We are asking everyone across the area to continue to support this as one of the greatest threats to the health of our nation is antibiotic resistance."

Around 25,000 deaths annually in Europe are attributed to antimicrobial resistance, with that figure considered to be conservative.

There has not been a new class of antibiotics for 30 years and there are very few new antibiotics in development.

Many antibiotics are prescribed and used for mild infections when they do not need to be, say campaigners.

All colds and most coughs, sinusitis, earache and sore throats often get better without antibiotics.

Dr David Kelly, a local GP and chair of NHS North Kirklees CCG, added: "Antibiotics should only be taken as prescribed, and never saved for later or shared with others.

“It is also important to use antibiotics in the right way - the right dose, at the right time for the right duration.

“Appropriate use of antibiotics will slow down the development of antibiotic resistance."