The August Bank Holiday may have seen soaring temperatures, but doctors in Abingdon are already preparing to fight off winter flu.

GPs at Malthouse Surgery, in The Charter, are urging their vulnerable patients to register for jabs which will stem the illness throughout the colder months.

Last year, the surgery immunised 3,500 people against influenza, which can have a devastating effect on patients who are elderly or infirm.

Malthouse Surgery, which has 21,000 patients, looks after more than half Abingdon's pensioners.

Practice manager Peter Abery has joined forces with nearby 13,000 Marcham Road Surgery, which has 13,000 patients, and together they hope to target more than two-thirds of the population.

Mr Abery said: "Flu can be a killer.

"Last year we managed to reach our target of making sure that 60 per cent of the over-65s registered with us took advantage of the jab.

"This year we need to reach Government targets of 65 per cent take up, including under-65s suffering high-risk diseases including chronic respiratory disease, asthma, chronic heart disease, diabetes and autoimmune conditions."

Anyone entitled to have the injection can contact Malthouse Surgery to make an appointment from Monday, September 10, by calling 01235 524001 after 11am.