THE fight against heart disease, cancer and strokes in Blackpool has been boosted by a £150,000 initiative to promote fruit and veg.

The Five-a-Day scheme, encouraging people to eat at least five portions of fruit or veg daily, will include link-ups with supermarkets and food growing schemes on allotments.

The scheme -- part of A £10 million, lottery-funded national initiative -- was launched on Tuesday.

Evidence suggests that eating fruit and vegetables can reduce the risk of some cancers, heart disease and strokes, but 80 per cent of men and 75 per cent of women locally do not eat their recommended five portions each day.

Dr Andy Howe, the town's director of public health, said: "With relatively high levels of heart disease and cancer in Blackpool, it is very important that people increase the amount of fruit and vegetables they eat: this initiative offers an excellent opportunity to encourage this.

"This initiative, along with others that tackle the cause of ill health, will ensure that Blackpool is a healthy place to live."

Wendy Swift, chief executive of Blackpool Primary Care Trust, added: "The receipt of lottery funding from the New Opportunities Fund for the Five-a-Day initiative in Blackpool is excellent news for local people and will make a real contribution towards achieving our aim of improving the health of the people of Blackpool."

Baroness Jill Pitkeathley, who chairs the lottery's New Opportunities Fund, added: "The roll-out of this imaginative scheme makes Blackpool the final area to benefit in this important programme."