CASES of viral disease mumps are dramatically higher across the Wellington and Taunton area with cases in the area up almost 400% on last year.

Young adults and older teenagers are those most at risk of getting mumps as they grew up after the introduction of the controversial MMR vaccine in 1988.

This was offered free to all children aged 12 to 15 months, with cases of the illness quickly reducing as the coverage increased, and a second dose was introduced in 1996, as mumps elimination was not achievable after just one dose.

For the full story, see the Wellington edition of this week's Somerset County Gazette.