The essential message to take action and book a cervical screening was given out throughout January as part of Cervical Cancer Awareness month.

The NHS is urging anyone eligible for cervical screening to book a potentially life-saving appointment at their local clinic.

Around 2,700 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in England each year, but the NHS screening programme helps save around 5,000 lives each year.

The health service wants to eradicate the cancer through a combination of vaccination and early identification.

Screening checks are made to detect high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), which is found in more than 99% of all cervical cancers and which may cause abnormal cells to develop in the cervix. These abnormal cells can, over time, turn into cancer if left untreated.