PEOPLE who are aged 65 or over and have not yet had a flu innoculation from their GP are being urged to contact their local surgery.

The free immunisation is part of a national campaign aimed at protecting the health of vulnerable people this winter.

At the end of November, 75.6 per cent of patients in the Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust area aged 65 or over had received the flu vaccine.

This compares with 74.1 per cent at the end of November last year, and is already well above the national target for this year of 70 per cent.

The PCT's director of public health, Dr Phil Kirby, said: "We are delighted with the uptake in our area so far, which we expect to compare very favourably with other parts of the country.

"Last year our vaccination rates were in the top three PCTs in the country and we are hoping for a similar position, if not better, this year.

"However, we would advise people who have chosen not to take up the free immunisation offer to think again. Flu is more widespread this year than in the last few years."