Hundreds of children are missing out on jabs to protect against dangerous diseases.

Public health experts in Leicestershire are urging parents to make sure their youngsters get the free immunisations against diseases such as measles, mumps and rubella.

Latest figures for the NHS in Leicestershire and Rutland showed that between April 2010 and March this year, the number of two-year-olds who received the first dose of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine was below the target 95 per cent level.

The immunisation rate in the city was 90.7 per cent and in the county the figure was 92.7 per cent.

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Ivan Browne, a public health consultant for the primary care trusts NHS Leicester City and NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland, said: "Parents may not appreciate the importance of vaccinations in preventing their child from suffering very unpleasant illnesses which can have serious and long-term complications."

The lack of protection against measles is of particular concern as it is most common among children aged one to four.

Complications of measles include pneumonia, ear and eye infections and, sometimes, inflammation of the brain.

For more information, call NHS Direct on 0845 4647, or see: