WOMEN across Llanelli are being encouraged to attend for regular smear tests — thanks to a unique campaign which is being supported by local pharmacies.

More than 700 community pharmacies have teamed up with Cervical Screening Wales to run a special promotional sticker campaign in a bid to encourage more younger women to take up the tests.

The Screening for Life campaign, which is being run throughout of July, has been organised by Cervical Screening Wales in an attempt to raise the profile of the NHS screening programme.

Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of cancer in women worldwide, and going for a smear test regularly can prevent around 75 per cent of cases of cervical cancer from developing.

During July, every woman aged between 20 and 30 who collects a prescription from one of the 725 participating pharmacies across Wales will have a special promotional sticker put onto her collection bag.

Although cervical screening is offered to all women in Wales aged between 20-64 every three years, the age group of 20-30 has been specifically targeted as it is the group with the poorest attendance for screening.

Screening promotion officer Dafydd Snelling said: "Cervical Screening Wales is very grateful to all the participating pharmacies and health boards across Wales.

"Research shows that around 94 per cent of the UK population visit a community pharmacy every year — which means they are perfect to promote health campaigns."