The Express reported in October that only 16 per cent of women aged between 50 and 70 had been given their three-year screening between July and September 2007 – the national target was 70 per cent.

A national shortage of radiographers and long-term staff sickness was blamed.

But local MP Jon Trickett demanded immediate action from the Wakefield District Primary Care Trust (PCT), which commissions the screenings for the area from the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

In a joint statement released this week, the organisations said the backlog had been cleared and claimed progress was being made towards meeting the new national target of 90 per cent.

Ann Ballarini, director of strategy and commissioning at Wakefield District PCT said quarterly figures for January to March this year showed a 200 per cent improvement, with 56 per cent of women being screened within 36 months.

She said the monthly figures gave a more accurate reflection of the progress, adding: "There has been a month-on-month improvement and figures for March show that 86 per cent of women were screened within 36 months.

"The figure for April is due, and we are expected to reach the national target of 90 per cent."

Mr Trickett welcomed the news, but said he would be keeping a close eye on the situation.

He said: "I have been assured that measures have been put in place to make sure that this is not a one-off and that such levels will be sustained.

"This is something that I will be monitoring to make sure that people in our area are getting the best treatment and screening within appropriate times"

Health officials said the backlog was cleared with the help of extra clinics and additional staff.

Lynda Davies, of Newmillerdam, had a mastectomy in October after a screening that was four months late revealed she had cancer.

The 61-year-old, who brought the issue to the attention of MPs and government ministers, said early detection could mean the difference between life and death.

She said: "I am pleased that some improvement has been made, but I think there is still a way to go.

"I want to see a continued improv-ement in the quarterly figure, beca-use that is the most telling one as far as I'm concerned.

"Routine screening is so important because it can pick up cancer before a lump is even detectable.

"Ideally we need to see 100 per cent of women getting their 36-month screening done on time, as is the case in places like Barnsley."

But she said she would still like to see the continental system of screenings every two years introduced in the UK.