A SOAP star is urging teenagers in East Lancashire to practise safe sex after her screen character was diagnosed with chlamydia.

The plea came as local health bosses revealed they were setting up an action plan to deal with cases of the sexually transmitted infection.

Gemma Atkinson, 20, from Bury, who plays Lisa Hunter in the Channel Four soap Hollyoaks, has even taken the time to visit her own doctor for a test after discovering the high figures associated with the infection.

She said: "I was so shocked by how many people have chlamydia and. It made me and all my friends want to go to our doctors to get tested.

"I didn't have a clue it was such a big problem. It can happen so easily..

"I advise everyone to go to their clinic and not be embarrassed. It is better to do something before it is too late."

Elaine Michel, a specialist at East Lancashire Public Health Network said the area could well have higher than average rates of infection because the high teenage pregnancy rates showed large numbers of people had unprotected sex.

Experts only have national figures to help them, but are trying to collate details of local infection rates.

In the UK in 2000 there were more than 39,000 cases of chlamydia, which is common in women aged 16-24 and men aged 18-29 but can affect anyone who is sexually active.

More than two-thirds of women and half of men who have chlamydia have no symptoms and others have symptoms so mild they aren't noticeable, although it is treatable with antibiotics.

Without treatment, the infection can spread to other parts of the body causing damage and serious long-term health problems including infertility.

Between 1996 and 2002 chlamydial infections more than doubled.

Gemma visited www.ruthinking.co.uk to research her storyline and recommended other young people use it.

East Lancashire health officials will start a screening programme as soon as possible with the option of self -ests to be made available in pharmacies, clinics and GP surgeries.