DOCTORS are warning East Lancashire college students they are at risk of a mumps outbreak.

And experts are urging those who did not have two immunisations by the time they were five to contact their doctor.

Figures show a huge rise in cases across the North West, with 1,208 mumps notifications so far this year compared to 182 for the same period last year and only 262 in the whole of 2003.

Lancashire and Cumbria have been faced with 369 notifications so far compared with 52 last year.

Dr John Astbury, Consultant in Health Protection, Cumbria and Lancashire Health Protection Unit based in Accrington, said: "We have noticed an increase in the number of mumps cases across East Lancashire and this is affecting a defined age group between 16-25 years.

"This is the group that may have missed out when the MMR vaccine was introduced in the late 1980s. The Health Protection Agency is encouraging those who may have missed vaccination to seek vaccination at this stage in East Lancashire."

Most at risk were said to be those who attend a college or university surrounded by youngsters from other areas, with the disease more likely to spread in winter.

North West director for the Health Protection Agency, Qutub Syed, said: "It is now vital that this age group should take advice about protecting themselves against what could be a very serious disease."

Mumps is an infectious viral disease in which the salivary glands in the neck become swollen and painful.

Dr Syed stressed the importance of mothers ensuring their children are vaccinated with current figures of only eight in ten children being immunised twice.