SHOCK statistics reveal that the North-East has the second highest death rate from coronary heart disease in the UK.

Only Scotland fares worse than the North-East, according to British Heart Foundation (BHF) statistics.

It means that premature death rates, of people under 75, for those in the North-East are 55 per cent higher than for the South-East.

At 306 per 100,000 people, the death rate for the North-East is worse than most areas of Britain and follows the pattern of an increasing death rate the further north you go.

The north-south divide shows no sign of going away, according to the BHF.

Professor Peter Weissberg, medical director of the BHF, said: "The north-south divide in death rates has been a problem for decades, and it is concerning that the gap is not narrowing, despite efforts made in recent years to improve public health in those areas most in need."

Statistics show that in the past year, 224 men out of every 100,000 men living in the North-East died prematurely because of coronary heart disease. That compares to only 151 for the South-East and 146 for the South-West.

For every 100,000 women in the North-East, there were 82 coronary heart disease-related deaths last year. That compares to 46 for the South-East and 49 for the South West.

While the disparity is likely to be caused by a combination of factors, such as lifestyle, social inequalities and inequalities in healthcare provision BHF specialists say that most of the risks, such as smoking, lack of exercise, excess alcohol and a poor diet, could be reduced.

Figures show that 30 per cent of North-East men and 27 per cent of women smoke, the highest figures in the UK.