A programme to vaccinate schoolgirls against the virus which causes cervical cancer has begun.

Schools in several Scottish areas will start vaccinating pupils aged 12 and 13 from this week.

They will be the first in the UK to receive the jab as part of a nationwide programme announced last year.

The Cervarix vaccination works by targeting the human papillomavirus (HPV).

HPV causes around 70 per cent of cases of cervical cancer, which kills more than 1,000 women in the UK each year.

The programme was announced in October and will eventually see all girls up to the age of 18 offered the vaccination.

The jab, which is not compulsory, is expected to revolutionise the approach to beating the disease.

The vaccine costs around £300 for a full course and will be given in three doses over a six-month period.

Trials showed it gave effective protection for up to six or seven years - the duration of the trials - and could last longer.

Dr Martin Donaghy, of public health body Health Protection Scotland said: "The vaccine and the smear will give you very, very high levels of protection. We think the programme will go very well."

He agreed there was some "concern" that vaccination could lead to a drop in the number of women seeking cervical screening.

"Because it only protects against 70 per cent of cancers we are still strongly recommending that women at the age of 20 go forward for the cervical screening programme and get a smear."

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