CASES of measles, mumps and rubella doubled in Bolton last year.

Now health experts are urging people, especially the young, to make sure they have had two doses of the MMR vaccine.

In 2008, there were 20 cases of both measles and mumps and nine people were diagnosed with rubella.

Last year the number of mumps patients jumped to 53, measles cases leapt to 35 and there were a dozen rubella cases.

With the diseases prevalent in the local area, NHS Bolton, the primary care trust which oversees local health services, wants people, especially young people who are most at risk if they have not had the jabs, to make sure they are protected.

Graham Munslow, health protection specialist at NHS Bolton, said: “We’d urge any young person who is not sure if they’ve had two doses of MMR vaccine to contact their GP and make sure they are fully immunised.”

Students at the University of Bolton, who may not be registered with a Bolton GP, can call the Walk In Centre, at Lever Chambers Centre for Health, on 01204 462787 and make an appointment to be vaccinated.