The importance of cervical screenings were highlighted in a campaign this week.

Members of Bradford Council are supporting an initiative aimed at encouraging women aged 25 to 34, across Bradford and Airedale, to attend a smear test.

Leaflets and information about the test were available to shoppers in Kirkgate Market, in Bradford, on Tuesday.

Eccleshill Councillor Ruth Billheimer – pictured with Councillor Sarah Ferriby and acting screening co-ordinator Arshad Hussain – is keen to help raise awareness and encourage women to take the test after the detection of abnormal cells at one of her cervical screening tests helped saved her life.

She said: “If I hadn’t gone for a screening at work in 1986, it could have developed into cancer and I wouldn’t be here to tell the tale.”