HEALTH chiefs are celebrating success in their campaign to protect the elderly against the risk of flu.

GPs and health staff across Craven, Harrogate and Rural District Primary Care Trust have immunised almost three-quarters of local residents aged over 65 against influenza.

Latest indications suggest the rate of immunisation of people over 65 years across the PCT area is 73 per cent, higher than the Government's target of 70 per cent.

Director of public health Dr Andrew Clark said: "Although a major flu outbreak is difficult to predict in advance, the important thing is to be prepared, and having almost three-quarters of local over-65s protected is a significant achievement."

In total, some 36,854 people in the PCT area have been protected by the flu immunisation.