Technological advances often lead to better science, but every now and then opting for the lowest tech levels possible can achieve the best outcome.

This was demonstrated spectacularly this month when a team of British microbiologists found that the best tool for determining the size of nasty bug population wasn't a laser or a chromatograph or a sophisticated scanner, but a sock.

The scientists, led by Natalia Jones from the University of East Anglia, wanted to assess the population density of a gastrointestinal bacteria species called Campylobacter in a couple of rural areas.

After much thought, they realised that the best way to do this was to enlist a cohort of volunteers and ask them to walk along country lanes while wearing a sock over one boot. Participants were asked to repeat the process over a 16 month period.

At the end of each walk, the volunteers were instructed to mail the sock to the university, an act that doubtless raised a few eyebrows at the local post office.

Once received, Jones and colleagues grew some of the gungy bits in Petri dishes, and subjected others to a process known as polymerase chain reaction in order to reveal the microbial population picked up along the way.

The results showed that the bacteria were most common in areas associated with livestock farming, and reached peak density in winter.

The team hopes the data will help to explain the ways in which Campylobacter infects people. It's a common cause of food poisoning, but that alone doesn't account for all the cases.

The scientists' report was published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology. It is unknown whether laboratory equipment stores will now start stocking footwear.