A measles epidemic could sweep through parts of Sussex because not enough children are being vaccinated against the disease.

The percentage of children in the county given the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) jab by their second birthday is about 79 per cent. This is well below the 95 per cent coverage recommended by the World Health Organisation to avoid an epidemic.

Brighton and Hove has the worst take-up rate in Sussex and one of the lowest in England at 69 per cent.

Areas covered by the Crawley and Eastbourne Downs Primary Care trusts have the highest rate at 85 per cent. The average for England is 80 per cent, a two per cent drop from the year before. The figures show many parents are still concerned about the vaccination's alleged link with autism.

Andrew Wakefield's findings published in the Lancet in 1998 have been publicly discredited and the Department of Health insists the vaccine is safe.

The latest immunisation figures from Department of Health Health cover the period from April 2003 to March 2004.

Officials hope publicity over flaws in Dr Wakefield's research will encourage parents to take up the vaccine again.

However campaign groups such as Justice, Awareness and Basic Support insist parents should be given the choice to have their child inoculated with single vaccines on the NHS so they can put their minds at rest.

At the moment many parents are opting to pay privately for single vaccines which are not registered on the figures, so actual immunisation levels could be a little higher than indicated.

As well as having a rash, people with measles can suffer serious complications such as meningitis and pneumonia in rare cases.

It is more common for eyes and ears to develop a secondary infection which may need antibiotics.

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "There is no measles epidemic in the UK - so far this year the cases of measles are less than they were last year.

"Coverage of the MMR vaccine has risen nationally in three out of the last four quarters, however, we do recognise overall coverage is lower than ideal and this leaves a concerning vulnerability. We urge parents to vaccinate their children with MMR as the safest form of protection from the disease."