LABOUR'S Shadow Health Secretary tonight (May 9) used an award-winning North-East healthy living project as the base to launch a fierce attack on the Coalition Government's policies.

After being shown around the Healthworks healthy living centre in Easington, east Durham, Andy Burnham accused the Government of "caving in to big business" and dropping proposed legislation to introduce plain package cigarettes and a minimum price for alcohol units.

"It is deporable. We have got an Australian, right-wing lobbyist (Lynton Crosby) seemingly writing Coalition health policies. They have run up the white flag in public health and there are still so many preventable deaths from smoking and alcohol and I just find it beyond belief."

Mr Burnham said the Government had "let the tobacco lobby win. I just think it is a shocking indictment of their responsibility to the health of the nation."

Labour's health spokesman toured the building and then listened to a presentation which explained how a derelict 1930s water board building was converted to a modern health living centre which hosts more than 70 community and health improvement services, from running a successful job club to offering dietary advice.

Mr Burnham also tried out the centre's impressive gym alongside many other users who had come in to work out.

The centre is run as a partnership between County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, Durham County and Northumbrian Water and is seen as a model example of public health partnership practice.

Faith Huntington, 43, from Peterlee, who lost more than two stone in weight after attending a dietary education course at the Healthworks, said: "This place is absolutely fantastic."