WEAR Valley residents could be recruited for a new study helping to cut the rate of deaths from heart disease.

Internationally-renowned medic Professor Massimo Massarini wants to carry out research in the district on the link between exercise and obesity, which is one of the major risks associated with cardiac illnesses.

The Durham Dales Primary Care Trust and Wear Valley District Council would team up with gym equipment company Technogym.

The project has already attracted interest from around the country and follows a similar project in Germany.

GPs, who have been called to a presentation at Auckland Castle tonight, will be asked to refer up to 25 children and adults to follow an exercise programme based at the council's leisure centres. The study would complement existing health programmes, including exercise referral and cardiac rehabilitation.

The PCT and the council are partners with The Northern Echo and Northumbrian Water in the campaign A Chance to Live which aims to highlight alarming heart disease statistics in the district by persuading people to eat well and exercise more.

Ken Ross, from the trust, said Professor Massarini's visit to Bishop Auckland was a major step forward in the district's fight to save lives.

He said: "He will be asking GPs to refer patients who are considered obese, based on the ratio of their height to weight.

"They will be looked at after three months and again after six months to check for improvements.

"Professor Massarini is an authority on physical activity and obesity and speaks on this subject internationally, so having him come to Bishop Auckland is a bit of a coup."

Kevin Archer, the council's community fitness manager, said: "We continue to be committed to innovative projects like this and see Wear Valley as an ideal place for the pilot.

"We hope the study will provide some answers to the problem of heart disease in Wear Valley as well as the national problem of a growing incidence of Type 2 diabetes associated with obesity in children."

Senior NHS figures will be at the meeting along with representatives from Sport England, local authorities and Durham University.