About 14,000 letters have been sent to families in Central Lancashire asking them to make sure children and teenagers have received two doses of the MMR vaccination.

The campaign comes after an outbreak of 42 cases of measles in Blackpool caused fears the disease could spread to Preston.

Preston has a low uptake in MMR vaccines with only 80% of children in the area immunised with two doses, compared with the 95% recommended by the Department of Health.

Health bosses are also holding drop-in sessions during the October half-term to make sure anyone who is not up-to-date with the MMR vaccine can get themselves protected.

Fiona Print, immunisations co-ordinator for NHS Central Lancashire, said: One of the problems with measles is that a lot of people still think it is quite a mild disease.

"But one in 15 people with measles develop quite serious complications such as pneumonia and infection of the brain."

The three drop-in sessions are being run between 10am and 3pm on:
Tuesday, October 28 at Chorley Council's once-stop-shop on Union Street; Wednesday, October 29 in Preston Council's Citizone bus which will be on Preston Market; Thursday, October 30 in Ormskirk New Church House, Church Street as part of the Young Careers event being held there.