77,400 people suffer from HIV

London: A record number of Britons are now living with HIV, with more than a quarter unaware that they have the infection, according to government figures.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said an estimated 77,400 people had HIV in 2007, up from 73,000 a year before.

Of those with the infection, 28 per cent were unaware they had HIV while a significant number were diagnosed late.

"Wider HIV testing in high-prevalence areas of the UK is urgently needed to reduce the number of undiagnosed infections," said Dr Valerie Delpech, Head of HIV surveillance at the HPA.