IT is concerning that a large number of women in Sussex are not taking up the offer of a test for cervical cancer.

It is vital that greater awareness is made of the importance of an early diagnosis of the disease, which kills about 1,000 people in the UK every year.

There can be many reasons why someone does not have the test, but it does not take long and could end up saving your life.

The sooner the condition is detected, the better the chances of a person’s survival.

The diagnosis and eventual death of reality TV star Jade Goody in 2009 made front page news across the country and led to a sharp surge in inquiries at family planning centres and health clinics.

However that upsurge appears to have tailed off again.

The disease is still very much here and it is important people take the time to take a test that could ultimately turn out to be a lifesaver.