The number of children vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella in Sussex is beginning to rise.

All ten primary care trusts (PCT) in the county have reported a rise in take up rates for the controversial MMR vaccine in the past year.

Figures published by the Department of Health show Eastbourne Downs PCT has the highest rate of 87 per cent, well above the England average of 81 and an increase of two per cent on the year before.

Adur, Arun and Worthing, Bexhill and Rother, Hastings and St Leonards, Sussex Downs and Weald, Horsham and Chanctonbury, Crawley and Western Sussex are all either at 81 per cent or higher.

Brighton and Hove has the lowest take-up rate of 70, a rise of one per cent and Mid Sussex has 79, an increase of three.

Health bosses said they were pleased rates have shown a small rise but more work had to be done to ensure people are protected.

The World Health Organisation recommends that more than 90 per cent of a community needs to be vaccinated to prevent an outbreak of measles or mumps.

Research published in 1998 caused widespread panic among parents when it suggested a link between MMR and autism - a claim rejected by the majority of experts who insist the vaccine is safe.

However, there are still parents who are unwilling to let their children have the vaccination because of the perceived link.

Some have paid to have their child inoculated with single vaccinations instead but not everybody can afford the cost.

Angela Iversen from the Health Protection Agency in Brighton and Hove said: "The figure is beginning to creep up, which is good, but we cannot be complacent.

"There was an outbreak of mumps earlier this year among older teenagers and those in their early 20s and I think that got people thinking about getting inoculated.

"The MMR vaccine is a good, safe vaccine and does the best possible job. There have been issues over the alleged link between the vaccine and autism but this has been discredited.

"I would like to think the message is beginning to get across."