DIET experts have issued a health warning after a survey showed that the region has some of the unhealthiest eating habits in the UK.

High-fat snacking could be contributing to the alarming rise in deaths from coronary heart disease, according to a new report.

According to the report by a health education charity, many people are replacing once-traditional meals with "grazing" on foods that are often dangerously high in the saturated fats that can increase cholesterol levels in our blood.

An increased cholesterol level is the biggest risk factor for developing coronary heart disease, which now affects one in eight people in Britain, nearly double the number found in 1989.

Experts say that the amount of snack consumption in the North-East is particularly worrying, because levels of coronary heart disease in the region are already 50 per cent higher than in the South-East.

A survey of 2,000 people by the Doctor Patient Partnership showed that the North-East and Yorkshire are among the worst culprits when it comes to snacking between meals on unhealthy food.

People in the North-East share the dubious honour of being the snack champions of Britain, along with the Scots, with 92 per cent admitting they eat between meals.

People in Yorkshire and Humberside win the distinction of being the most likely to snack on high-fat pies and sausage rolls (30 per cent) but the North-East and Scotland are close behind on 26 per cent.

Statistics also show that people in the North-East are the most likely to drink sugar-laden fizzy drinks between meals (36 per cent) and are the most likely to be put off buying healthy snacks because they find them too expensive (30 per cent).

Nutrition expert Dr Jennifer Poulter said the key message from the report was that simple dietary changes could reduce the amount of saturated fat we consume, which is a crucial step in keeping blood cholesterol levels down.

"You should try a step-by- step approach to changing your diet," said Dr Poulter.

"If you regularly eat two packets of crisps between meals, try replacing one packet with some tortilla chips, which are lower in fat.

"Then step up to a sandwich, which is more filling but has less fat.

"Eventually, you may like to try fruit."