YOUNG women across the Bradford district are being urged to have a smear test after new figures revealed one in three fail to attend screening appointments.

Data compiled by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) stated that only 69 per cent of eligible women aged 25 to 49 had a smear test last year, compared to 78.6 per cent of women aged 50 to 64.

The figures also showed a "very concerning" downward trend in the total number of women across Bradford having the tests, with a rate of 72.3 per cent in 2014 dropping to 71.9 per cent last year, below the national average of 73.5 per cent.

Cervical cancer is the most common form of cancer in women aged 35 and under, with more than 3,000 people diagnosed every year in the UK.

Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust, the only UK charity dedicated to women and their families affected by cervical cancer, warned the disease was on the increase, with almost 3.7million women across the UK currently avoiding "potentially life-saving" screening appointments.

The charity said a screening rate of 85 per cent would result in a 27 per cent reduction in the number of deaths caused by the condition, one of the messages promoted during its Cervical Cancer Prevention Week.

Bradford Council is supporting the campaign, and using the week to urge all young women to attend their cervical smear test when invited as it "could save lives".

Philip Hargreaves, health protection senior manager for Bradford Council, said: "Cervical screening is not a test for cancer, but is a method of preventing cancer by detecting and treating early abnormalities which can prevent the disease before it gets started, which is why everyone invited should get screened.

"Talking about the test does reassure people and encourage more women to attend screening, so support from friends and family is also important, particularly for those going to a screening for the first time."

Dr Anne Connolly, the Bradford NHS clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) speciality lead for maternity, women’s, and sexual health said: "The number of women attending for their smear in Bradford is decreasing.

"This is very concerning for us, as this test is so important in detecting changes to the cervix at an early stage when treatments are easy and will save lives.

"It is important to remember that any woman is at risk of developing cervical cancer and there are unlikely to be any abnormal symptoms in the early stages.

"Women can have this easy test performed at their GP surgery by their practice nurse or their GP or, if they prefer, their local contraception service."

Of the 3.1 million women screened for cervical cancer across the UK last year, only 6.4 per cent displayed any abnormal changes to the cells of the cervix, a potential indicator of cancer.

Dr Yasmin Khan, associate medical director for NHS England in Yorkshire and the Humber, said: "It’s actually estimated that early detection and treatment through cervical screening can prevent up to 75 per cent of cervical cancers from developing.

"We understand that going for a cervical smear test can be daunting, but a test takes five minutes, and if you attend each time you’re invited it provides a high degree of protection against cancer.

"We want to urge all women to attend their smear when invited, or book one if they’ve missed their last test by calling their GP and ensuring they stay healthy."