THE number of young people tested for the sexually-transmitted disease chlamydia has increased by 22 per cent in the past year, new figures reveal.

South East Essex Primary Care Trust has checked 793 young people in Southend for the disease since the beginning of the year - 43 more than the same period last year.

However, the number testing positive has remained constant - about one in ten.

The trust has been running a campaign called ruClear? to raise awareness of the disease, which can lead to infertility.

Home testing kits can also be ordered from a website set up by the trust.

Chlamydia is the most common sexually-transmitted infection in the UK, Simon Ford, health improvement specialist, said: "Historically, chlamydia has not been a particularly well-known infection, but we have worked extremely hard to raise awareness in south-east Essex.

"We started our ruClear? chlamydia screening programme three years ago, to provide information, support and screening in south east Essex for men and women under 25.

"We encouraged all sexually-active people under 25 in the area to do a simple self-test. As a result, we have seen a 22 per cent increase in the past year in people being screened. "

But he stressed: "This does not mean there has been an increase in the number of people in the area with chlamydia, simply we are testing more people.

"Because the infection is easily treatable with antibiotics, it also means we are more effectively tackling the spread of the infection."

Screening is carried out at the Kingsley-Ward Centre, at Warrior House, in Southchurch Road, Southend.

For more information call 01702 577105, or click the link below.