Li'l problem with count()

[Sandy]

Hi



<p>Flies in pot = <?=flies();?> </p>

function flies(){
$sql = 'select count(*) from flies';
$lnk = mysql_connect('localhost','root','123456');
$db = mysql_select_db('moar',$lnk);
$result = mysql_query($sql,$lnk);
mysql_free_result($result);
mysql_close($lnk);
return $result;
}


Why this leads to 'ressource id #10' instead of the flies count ?
The query gives the actual count if I use it in a line command !!

thanks