Members from Northumberland Federation joined 4,000 other WI members at the National Federation of Women’s Institutes’ annual meeting last week.

Delegates voted to call on the Government and local authorities to address the decline in local bus services, and for WI members to take action to raise awareness of the importance of cervical screening.

Marjorie Read, chairwoman of Northumberland Federation of Women’s Institutes, said: “It was a fantastic meeting and it’s now up to Federations and local WI’s to campaign on the two resolutions passed by the members.

“Local bus services are vital to many people in our rural areas and as the largest women’s organisation it is incumbent upon us to make sure that all young women understand the importance of screening for cervical cancer.”

Lynne Stubbings, chairwoman of the NFWI, said: “It was a fantastic day and wonderful to see so many WI members coming together in Bournemouth.

“Local authorities in England and Wales have taken £182m away from supported bus services since 2010, affecting more than 3,000 bus services in England and 259 in Wales.

“It is estimated that cervical screening currently prevents 70 per cent of cervical cancer deaths.

“However, this figure could be 83 per cent if all eligible women attended.”