MORE people in Wyre Forest contracted gonorrhoea and syphilis in 2022.

It comes as gonorrhoea cases hit a record high in England, while the number of syphilis diagnoses has reached the highest level since just after the Second World War.

New figures from the UK Health Security Agency show 56 cases of gonorrhoea were recorded in Wyre Forest in 2022, an increase of 23 on the year before, when there were 33.

In 2012, there were 18 cases.

Last year, five syphilis cases were also recorded – down from six in 2021.

Across England, infectious syphilis diagnoses increased to 8,692 in 2022, the largest annual number since 1948.

Meanwhile, gonorrhoea diagnoses rose to 82,592 in 2022, an increase of 50 per cent compared to 2021, and the highest number since records began in 1918.

The UKHSA said people aged 15 to 24 are most likely to be diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections as it urged those who are having sex with new or casual partners to wear a condom and get tested regularly.

It said STIs are usually easily treated with antibiotics but many can cause serious health issues if left untreated.

In 2022, there were 2,195,909 diagnostic tests for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis or HIV – 13 per cent more than in 2021.