A leading figure in the fight against heart disease will be in Middlesbrough today to help an investigation into the causes and treatment of cardiovascular ailments.

Dr Mike Knapton, national director of prevention and care at the British Heart Foundation, will be giving the perspective foundation - a leading national charity - on the issue.

He will be joining panel members from Middlesbrough Council's health scrutiny committee and Dr John Canning, secretary of the Cleveland local medical committee, who will be explaining the role of GPs in identifying and preventing heart disease.

The scrutiny panel is collecting evidence on the impact of cardiovascular disease on life expectancy, and will be making recommendations to local health trusts later this year.

Councillor Eddie Dryden, chairman of the panel, said: "From the early evidence that has been gathered, it is already clear that cardiovascular disease poses a massive health risk to communities in Middlesbrough.

"This seminar provides an excellent opportunity to hear the views of experts within their field on what is probably the key local health issue.

"It is going to be extremely useful in raising awareness of this problem."