NHS East Lancashire is targeting people between the ages of 15 and 24 for screening to see if they are infected with the often-hidden condition of chlamydia.

The ambitious programme has been introduced to contain the spread of the infection.

According to leaders of East Lancashire's b-sure sexual health campaign, one in 10 young people have the infection, which can go undetected and do long-term harm unless treated.

Last year, NHS East Lancashire and its partner organisations screened more than 3,000 young people as part of the increased effort to deal with chlamydia.

If untreated, it can cause serious reproductive and other health problems, with both short and long-term consequences.

Now, local public health professionals have set an ambitious target of reaching 17% of the targeted age group, with the aim of increasing this percentage each year.

Already, NHS East Lancashire is well under way with implementing the latest initiative, with chlamydia testing available at community locations rather than the hospital-based Genito-Urinary Medicine Clinics.

But health professionals point out that more young people should come forward to be tested, for their own good and peace of mind.

More than 100 locations are being used for the free screening sessions throughout East Lancashire, including all of b-sure's contraceptive and sexual health clinics, Brook Centres, 14 GP surgeries, 29 of the area's pharmacies and all step-in service outlets.

In addition, students are being targeted at Burnley College, Accrington and Rossendale College and Nelson and Colne College.

Kelly Taylor, a Public Health Commissioning Manager with NHS East Lancashire, said: "It is vitally important young people come forward to have the quick and easy test for chlamydia. They owe it to themselves. The screening consists of a simple urine test, and if positive, the infection is quickly and easily treated with antibiotics. The test is available free and confidentially."