YOUNG people could be put at risk by threatened cuts to chlamydia screening across East Lancashire, health chiefs fear.

An extra £100,000 is needed to pay for testing kits across Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Rossendale and the Ribble Valley so NHS East Lancashire can meet NHS targets for the condition, which can cause infertility if left untreated.

But with the former primary care trust facing a £6million funding gap, doubts have been raised over whether the cash can be found from existing sexual health service budgets.

No final decision has yet been made but the trust’s non-executive directors have signalled their unease at the prospective loss.

The trust has already failed to meet a 2009-10 target for screening 25 per cent of 15 to 24 year old for chlamydia.

Without the extra testing kits, an internal review by Tim Mansfield, multi-agency services head, states it would be 'impossible' to achieve a 35 per cent target for the coming year.

Non-executive director John Wilkinson said: “I know we are in a position where we have to make difficult financial decisions, and there is little likelihood of us reaching the 2010-11 target.

“But what does that mean in terms of the impact on young people? Are we not letting down a large proporition of our population by these cuts? They will be deprived of the chance to close the health gap.”

Chief executive Steve Spoerry (correct) said it was hoped that any decision on the kits would have 'relatively little impact' on the chlamydia programme.

But he promised that any funding decision regarding the scheme would be brought before the board for discussion.

Chlamydia cases had rocketed in East Lancashire between 1999 and 2008 and a joint screening programme, B-Sure, had been promoted in partnership with NHS Blackburn with Darwen over the past couple of years.

More work was being done to encourage GPs to support the testing programme, which had extended screenings to East Lancashire schools and colleges.