More than a third of Croydon women are failing to attend regular breast cancer tests.

Figures from Croydon Primary Care Trust (PCT) show last year just 63 per cent of women aged between 53 and 64 attended the breast screening tests, which the NHS recommend should be carried out every three years.

And although the 69.9 per cent figure for March 2007 shows an improvement it still falls short of the national 70 per cent target.

Tim Crayford, Croydon PCT's director of public health, said: "Breast screening reduces the risk of the women who attend dying from breast cancer and research shows it is now saving 1,400 lives a year in England."

Last month the Croydon Guardian reported how women who used to attend a breast screening van at Tescos in Purley were having to travel to New Addington or Allders in the town centre instead because the mobile unit was scrapped.

Councillor Margaret Mead, cabinet member for social care and health, said: "It is a sensitive area of the anatomy. But it is better to be armed with information at an early opportunity."