New plans to reduce smoking and alcohol-related illnesses in Wirral

Plans to reduce ill-health caused by alcohol and smoking are to be considered in Wirral.

Smoking remains the biggest single cause of early death in Wirral, while there were almost 10,000 alcohol-related admissions to hospital in the borough last year.

Wirral Council says that smoking and alcohol misuse cost the local healthcare system more than £100 million combined every year.

The authority says one in five people in Wirral smoke with those in more deprived areas more than twice as likely to smoke as those in more affluent areas.

The strategies have been developed with residents, partners and stakeholders to provide support to people.

They will be considered by the council's cabinet later today.