A charity has urged women to not let their fears about cervical screening stop them from booking a smear test.

Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust is offering advice during Cervical Cancer Prevention Week.

A survey by Censuswide has found young women feel scared and vulnerable about going for cervical screening.

It found 71 per cent of the 2,005 woman surveyed said they delayed because they felt scared, while 75 per cent did not go because they felt vulnerable.

Other findings included 68 per cent saying they would not tell their nurse of their concerns.

Smear test attendance is decreasing and in 2017-18 only 71.4 per cent of eligible women attended.

Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust launching its #SmearForSmear campaign to tackle the decline and acknowledge the fact that going for a smear test can be difficult.

Through the campaign it wants to highlight the support available to women as well as tips to make the test better.

Robert Music, Chief Executive, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust said: “Smear tests provide the best protection against cervical cancer yet we know they aren’t always easy.

"We want women to feel comfortable talking to their nurse and asking questions. It’s not making a fuss and there are many ways to make the test easier. Please don’t let your fears stop you booking a test.

“Our research has again highlighted the urgent need for making the programme more patient-focused.

"We want to see self-sampling being made available as well as more flexible locations for women to attend.

"It’s vital women have more control otherwise we will see attendance continue to fall and diagnoses of this often-preventable cancer increase.”

How you can get involved this week

Post a #SmearForSmear selfie with a tip or word of support.

Your post might be the reminder or encouragement someone needs to book their test, it could literally save their life.

With over 1.2 million people not taking up their invite each year it’s more important than ever.

Cervical cancer - the facts

The majority of cervical cancers are caused by persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection which causes changes to the cervical cells

In total 220,000 UK women are diagnosed with cervical abnormalities each year and more than 3,200 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 890 women lose their lives every year.

Around 5 million UK women are invited to cervical screening each year yet one in four do not attend.

Women aged 25-49 are invited every three years and women aged 50-64 are invited every five years.

Dr Phillippa Kaye, author, GP and Ambassador of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust: “Across the UK nurses and doctors take millions of smear tests every year. We honestly don’t think about what you’re wearing, what you look like, whether or not you’ve shaved - we just want to offer the best test we can to as many women as possible.

"We’ve seen and heard it all before and want to put your mind at ease if you have questions or concerns. Ask the things you want to know and remember you can say stop any time - it’s your test.”

For more information about cervical cancer screening visit www.jostrust.org.uk.