Thousands of pounds have been ploughed into new day clinics to screen refugees for potentially fatal tuberculosis.

Cases of TB in Oxfordshire have risen by one third and experts claim the problem has worsened because of difficulties pinpointing the disease in transient asylum seekers.

The county health authority has spent £3,000 and joined forces with charity the Open Door to offer friendly and welcoming clinics for refugees.

Dr Dick Mayon-White, the Oxfordshire communicable diseases specialist, said: "We know there is a group of new entrants in east Oxford whose health we are not very sure about. With the walk-in clinic we will be able to see who has been screened, get a grip of what the real health issues are and see how many people haven't been vaccinated.

"There will be a welcoming atmosphere with general information and tea and coffee.

"Upstairs we will then see people individually and hope they are willing to see us about their health worries."

The first day-clinic was held at Open Door, in Manzil Way, off Cowley Road, this month and will be followed by two more sessions. Managers will then review the scheme for the future. It is hoped the service, which also tests patients for Hepatitis B and other health worries, will help fight against a screening and vaccination backlog.

Ten years ago the county recorded about 25 to 30 cases of TB. Dr Mayon-White said an increase to 39 last year had been caused by people arriving from abroad.

He said: "The reason why we are getting more cases is because we are getting more people arriving in Oxfordshire without good economic circumstances, suffering from stress and in poverty. If the number of asylum seekers was what it was a decade ago, then TB would be less."