BREAST cancer screening rates in Bradford are performing better than the national figures.

In England, to March 31, 2014, 75.9 per cent (4.28 million) of the 5.64 million eligible women aged 53 to 70 had been screened within the last three years – a figure known as coverage.

This compares to 76.4 per cent at the same point in 2013.

In Bradford, at March 31, 2014, 33,850 of the 48,264 women aged 53 to 70 eligible, 70.1 per cent, were screened within the last three years.

This compares to 71.1 per cent at the same point in 2013, which saw 33,531 of 47,157 of eligible women screened.

In Calderdale, at March 31, 2014, 15,928 of the 22,645 women aged 53 to 70 eligible, 70.3 per cent, were screened within three years.

This compares to 72.5 per cent, with 16,150 out of 22,263 screened in 2013, according to figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) show.

The NHS Cancer Screening Programme's minimum standard is 70 per cent.

Ralph Saunders, head of public health for Bradford Council, said: "We are working with communities across the district to improve the number of women who attend breast cancer screening.

"Survival rates for breast cancer are improving nationally, but you can't be treated for breast cancer if you are not aware you have the disease."