The number of people diagnosed with HIV in the UK is continuing to rise, the Health Protection Agency said yesterday. In the year to December, there were 5,560 new diagnoses, including 1,712 men who have sex with men.

"Sex between men remains the group in the UK at highest risk of acquiring HIV," said Valerie Delpech of the agency's HIV department.

Because reports are still coming in, the final figure for 2005 is expected to rise to more than 7,750. In 2004 the figure was 7,275. Diagnoses among heterosexuals accounted for more than half the total (54%), with most cases acquired abroad.