THE number of cases of HIV and Aids in East Lancashire dropped last year, despite figures across the North West rising sharply.

But experts deny that the area is bucking the trend.

There were eight new cases reported in 2000 across East Lancashire, compared with 13 in 1999, bringing the number of people living with HIV and Aids in the area to 50.

But figures for the whole of the North West showed there were 335 new cases -- an increase of 16 per cent.

Peter Cash, HIV co-ordinator for the Aids and HIV prevention team, based in Blackburn, said: "We have absolutely no reason to believe East Lancashire is unique in the North West, both in terms of infection rate, or in terms of numbers of undiagnosed cases.

"Having said that, because of the demographic area, with the numbers of rural communities and small towns we have, there is a reluctance for people coming forward for testing.

"Although we are looking at very small numbers, we believe we are still about the same as the rest of the region.

However, we must always remember that for every one new case, there are 12 per cent more undiagnosed."

The numbers of those being infected through heterosexual sex has risen in line with national trends, with fewer being reported through homosexual sex.

Mr Cash added that this was partly due to a misconception among heterosexual people that they were less at risk than they were 10 years ago.

The service has some services covering all of East Lancashire and others just covering Blackburn, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley. One area of success has been health promotion among drug users, which has resulted in almost no-one infected through drug use in recent years.

Across the North West, 56 per cent of cases were infected by homosexual sex, while 27 per cent were through heterosexual sex.

A report by the North West Public Health Observatory showed this year had the largest number of new cases reported since monitoring began six years ago.

Penny Cook, senior lecturer in communicable diseases at Liverpool John Moores University, which compiled the report, said: "There are definitely differences between areas across the North West. East Lancashire has seen a steady number of people being infected through homosexual sex, with just two or three through heterosexual sex."