MORE people contracted tuberculosis in Preston last year than anywhere else in North West Lancashire according to a new report on the region's health.

Preston accounted for two thirds - 41 - of the 63 cases reported throughout the area, which includes Fylde, Wyre, and Blackpool.

The annual report on the health of the population, published by North West Lancashire Health Authority, reveals most of the Preston cases occurred in patients with a South Asian background, and that many of the victims were young adults.

Since 1996 there has been a dramatic increase in reported cases of the treatable disease in the town, which the report attributes to an increase in Preston's South Asian population.

Occurrence of the disease in non-Asians is similar in Blackpool and Preston but higher than in Wyre and Fylde.

A major difference between Asians and non-Asians contracting the disease was in the age group affected. The highest incidence in the Asian population was among 20 to 29-year-olds, whereas in non-Asians Tuberculosis was more common among older people.

Preston could also be set for new health problems because it has been declared a "cluster area" eligible to receive refugees and asylum seekers.

The report says incoming refugees could have mental health problems including post-traumatic distress and depression.

"They can also bring the health problems of the region they come from and experience problems because of language and culture in common with the rest of the ethnic minority community," the report says.

Social inequalities and disadvantage were the main factors in determining health problems, the report said, with several wards in Preston among the worst 20 per cent in the country for health, income, employment and housing.

Among the recommendations in the report was the development of hospital surveillance systems.