Parents have been urged to ensure children were immunised against measles, after three members of the same Solihull family, including a baby, were struck down by the disease.

Solihull NHS Care Trust warned that it expected to see more measles cases following the discovery of the cluster in the south of the borough.

The condition of the family members, two men and a baby of pre-immunisation age, is not said to be serious.

But Dr Alan Stanton, consultant community paediatrician for the trust, said: “It is inevitable that there will be more cases of measles in Solihull and nationally a large epidemic is expected.

“Measles was a rare disease but the scare caused by the now discredited theory linking MMR to autism has left many children vulnerable.”

Solihull NHS Care Trust is now hoping to boost immunisation levels to prevent a larger outbreak and parents of those aged under 18 who are not up to date with the MMR vaccination are being urged to contact their GP to discuss immunisation.