Thousands Get Smear Test

43,507 women were tested for cervical cancer in Devon last year - 8,278 without having been invited.

The death of Jade Goody in March 2009 hugely raised the awareness of the problem - and the need for regular check ups - Maria Baratt is in charge of immunisation at NHS Devon, "the publicity that she generated was excellent and it certainly heightened the awareness and for us the uptake was fantastic."

However she now says it is important that awareness doesn't fade, "you're at risk of cervical cancer at any age, the risks increase with certain life factors - how many sexual partners you have, if you smoke, people who come from poorer backgrounds - but it can hit anybody at any age."