ONE in 20 deaths in the North-East are now related to alcohol, according to a shock new report.

The Association of Public Health Observatories report reveals that the gap between the hard drinking North and the South is getting bigger.

For example, binge drinking - in women in particular - has continued to increase in the North but some areas in the South showed a decrease over the last five years.

Years of life lost and deaths related to alcohol are also increasing.

In the North-East, six per cent of men and four per cent of women now die from a condition related to alcohol.

All regions of England show an increase in the rates of people admitted to hospital as a result of alcohol consumption but these are greater in the North.

The report identifies that poorer areas are suffering higher levels of alcohol-related deaths, hospital admissions, crime, absence from work, school exclusions, teenage pregnancy and road accidents.

The report was commissioned by chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson.

Key findings show that there are substantial differences between richer and poorer communities across England.

There are around 1.55 million people drinking to harmful levels in England with the North East, North West and Yorkshire and The Humber generally showing higher levels than other regions.

In the North East, 26% of men and 16% of women drink at hazardous and harmful levels.

On average men living in the more deprived areas of the North East lose 19 months of life and women lose eight months compared to five months for men and three months for women living in more affluent areas.

In the North East, every year alcohol is estimated to result in at least 19 people being admitted to hospital, nine crimes and 1.7 claims of incapacity benefit for every 1,000 people living in the region.

Regional director of public health for the North East Dr Stephen Singleton said: "Earlier this year we launched a regional statement of priorities and framework for action which will help us to focus our efforts and begin to address the problems.

"The longer term goal needs to be to tackle the drinking culture in the North East. I believe the best way to do this is by adopting a regional approach which will coordinate the activity of all our partners."