Currently there are 59 confirmed cases with more than 100 suspected cases in the town, and with the uptake rate for the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine in the town at only just above 80 per cent at age two, this means almost one in five young children in the town are at risk of contracting the highly-infectious disease.

The Public Health team at NHS Hartlepool has already organised and held a series of community clinics over the last few weeks to encourage a greater uptake and this latest move is to help boost the immunisation rate further.

All children in primary schools in Hartlepool will receive a letter and consent form over the next week, informing the parents of where and when the school clinics are being held.

Younger siblings who need vaccinating are also able to attend these clinics. Children and young people in secondary schools are advised to attend their own GP practices for vaccination.

Clinics are taking place in Sacred Heart RC Primary on Monday, June 22, from 9am-3.30pm, with Jesmond Road Primary being visited on Tuesday, June 23, between 9am-3.30pm. On Wednesday, June 24, the clinic will be located at West Park Primary from 9am-2pm, and then from 1pm-3.30pm at Elwick Primary.

Clavering Primary is being visited between 9am-2pm on Thursday, June 25, with the last clinic being based at Lynnfield Primary at the same time on Friday.

Further clinics are being planned in all of the primary schools across Hartlepool before the end of the school year in July and details will be announced once they have been arranged.