Lancashire holidaymakers were today warned that they could be at risk of contracting a deadly European virus.

Hundreds of thousands of travellers heading for Europe this summer are being warned about potentially life-threatening Tick Borne Encephalitis (TBE), which can lead to meningitis and, in serious cases, paralysis and death.

TBE is now endemic in 16 established and emerging holiday hotspots, including Denmark, France, Sweden, Italy and Greece.

Cases in Germany increased by 156per cent during 2005 raising concerns about fans travelling to watch England play in the World Cup, which kicks off next month.

TBE at-risk groups include all visitors to rural areas of endemic countries, particularly those involved in outdoor activities such as trekking, hiking, climbing, cycling, and camping, who have not taken bite prevention precautions.

Now the Tick Alert campaign is aiming to highlight the dangers of infections that ticks can cause, including TBE abroad and Lyme disease in the UK.

Lyme disease symptoms include acute, arthritis-like symptoms, lethargy, and loss of appetite. If left untreated it can lead to severe lameness, neurological problems and loss of sight.

Health expert Dr Tom Smith advised all holidaymakers walking through grassland, bracken, or shrubbery, to make sure any exposed flesh is covered, so a tick cannot attach itself to the skin.

He said: "The ticks come off wildlife onto the grass and then can become attached to someone's skin if they brush past them.

"A person will see a black mark and will see the tick's head under their skin.

"If they do have a tick, they should go to a local doctor who will be able to remove it using specialist tick tweezers and can give them a strong shot of antibiotics to fight off any virus the tick may have passed on as it fed on the person's blood."