CASES of syphilis and gonorrhoea have shown a sharp rise in the North-East over the last year.

Figures released by Public Health England show there were 1,447 new cases of gonorrhoea diagnosed in the region during 2014, up by eight per cent on the previous year.

Although the number of new syphilis cases in women fell, they rose by 40 per cent among men taking the total number of cases diagnosed in 2014 to 160, the highest level for five years.

Overall, a total of 18,971 sexually transmitted infections were diagnosed in the North-East in 2014, down 13 per cent on the previous year.

Chlamydia remains the most common STI, making up 51 per cent of all new diagnoses in the North-East, but the number of cases fell from to 9,603 in 2014 - a reduction of 22 per cent over the year.

Dr Kirsty Foster, sexual health lead for Public Health England North East said: “These latest figures show that, in common with the rest of the UK, poor sexual health continues to be a serious problem in the region.

“The increase in syphilis in men is of particular concern. In this group 78 per cent of the cases are men who have sex with men, an increasing trend within this community.

“The increase in gonorrhoea is also concerning as we know drug resistance is emerging in the treatment for this infection so we can no longer rely on treatment alone”.

She added: “Although the reduction in the number of cases of chlamydia is welcome, we need to make sure that young people continue to attend for screening.

“These are all preventable infections and it’s crucial that we continue to communicate messages about safe sex, including condom wearing, and the importance of getting checked out if you’ve had unprotected sex with a new partner”.