Students are being offered meningitis jabs to cut down on a deadly strain of 'freshers flu'.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has urged all first time students coming to the city to get the vaccination, due to an increase in the number of cases of meningitis W.

Health bosses are offering students the new Meningitis ACWT vaccine following the surge in cases of the disease.

It will be offered to students under 25 as part of a plan to reduce the number of people infected.

According to the health board, around 25 people in Glasgow are diagnosed each year.

Dr Emilia Crighton, director of Public health at the country's largest health board said: "Meningitis affects more than 1,000 people in the UK every year, so it’s important that all first time students get vaccinated during Fresher’s Week or make an appointment with their GP.

"Sickness can be common in new students during the first few weeks of university and low immune systems can leave tired students open to complaints such as coughs, colds, and sore throats.

"However, in addition to these minor ailments, there has been a rise in the number of cases of the potentially fatal meningitis W across the UK.

"Getting the free vaccination takes just a couple of minutes and could end up being life saving."

The vaccination programme is being offered as a catch up service, also protecting against strains A, C and Y.

It is aimed at people coming to university for the first time who would otherwise miss out on the programme which is being offered to third year pupils over the next four years.

Meningitis can have a devastating effect on those who contract it, and it can be fatal.

Former Evening Times Scotswoman of the Year Olivia Giles was a successful lawyer when she fell ill with meningococcal meningitis, and had to have her hands and feet amputated.

In 2007 she founded the charity 500 miles, which helps to supply t[prosthetic limbs to developing countries.