FIONA Bruce is urging women to attend cervical screening sessions after attendance across England fell to a 20-year low.

The MP for the Congleton constituency has met with Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust to discuss the issue, with a quarter of women in east Cheshire now failing to take up their screening invite.

"Nine women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every day in the UK," she said.

"Cervical screening provides the best protection against the disease so it is concerning to hear that so many women are not attending this potentially life-saving test when invited.

"We all have a role to play in increasing attendance and I would urge all eligible women to take up the offer of screening which could ultimately save their life."

Cervical screening prevents 75 per cent of cervical cancers from developing.

Women can reduce their risk of cervical cancer by attending regular cervical screening, being aware of symptoms, knowing the risk factors and taking up a vaccination if offered

Robert Music, chief executive of Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust, added: "Thanks to the cervical screening and HPV vaccination programme cervical cancer is a disease that can be prevented.

"We want to see it eradicated, however to get there we need to work together to increase uptake of cervical screening and HPV vaccination.

"If we do not do this, we will see more women diagnosed and more lives lost."