Students are putting themselves at risk of meningitis by failing to be vaccinated against the potentially killer disease, a survey says.

Doctors warned of "worryingly low" vaccination rates - one in four first year university students have not had the jab.

The survey from the Primary Care Virology Group - an independent group of GPs - also uncovered wide variations around the UK.

Outbreaks of meningitis often follow high rates of flu and students are particularly susceptible to the C strain of the brain disease.

The government launched a campaign in September last year to vaccinate all first year students against meningitis C.

But the survey found that although 91% of the 610 students asked had heard of the campaign, only 75% had been vaccinated.

A regional breakdown showed even lower rates in some areas - in Huddersfield 62% had not been vaccinated, and in London 41% had yet to receive the jab.

Not got round to it

Of those who had not been vaccinated, 53% said they had "simply not got round to it", despite high profile cases of students dying from the disease.

Of the students questioned, 77% said they regarded the disease as "very serious".

Low levels of registration with GPs in university towns were partly to blame - a third of first years in Huddersfield and London did not have a doctor.

Chairman of the Primary Care Virology Group Dr Nigel Higson said: "Students should sign up with a GP straight away and ensure they receive a meningitis vaccination.

"Individuals in their late teens and early 20s are more likely to be affected by meningitis C than other strains of the disease.

"It is extremely serious and is preventable with a vaccine that takes just a few minutes to receive.

"Outbreaks of meningitis often follow outbreaks of influenza, so I would urge students to take action immediately."

The vaccine provides protection against the C strain of the disease for about three years. The C strain accounts for about 40% of meningitis cases in the UK.

A spokeswoman for the Meningitis Research Foundation said: "We would urge those students who have not been vaccinated to seriously consider it because it will give them protection against group C meningitis."

But she warned students were still susceptible to the B strain and should be alert for symptoms of the disease.