Honey could be the key in the battle against anti­biotic resistance, experts have said.

Scientists said that honey has a combination of weapons to beat infection including hydrogen peroxide, acidity, high sugar concentration and polyphenols - all of which actively kill bacterial cells.

It also has the "osmotic effect", which means it draws water from bacterial cells which dehydrates and kills them.

Dr Susan Meschwitz, assistant professor in chemistry at Salve Regina University in the US, said: "The unique property of honey lies in its ability to fight infection on multiple levels."

She will tell the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Dallas, Texas, that a large number of studies have confirmed the antimicrobial properties of the natural sweetener.