MERSEYSIDE Health Action Zone has received a glowing report from Government inspectors.

Following a visit by officials from the NHS, the Government Office North West and the Social Services Inspectorate, Merseyside was named as one of only three 'examplar' Health Action Zones for the programmes it has developed to take forward corornary heart disease, cancer and mental health. It also won praise as one of the top zones nationally for the progress it has made towards service modernisation.

Merseyside Health Action Zone initiatives funded in St Helens include:

Consultant cardiology teams. The zone has invested some £3.3 million in 2000/2001 towards its Coronary Heart Disease programme. Heart disease and stroke are major causes of disability and death on Merseyside and the HAZ has funded a large number of initiatives to tackle the problem.

Fit for Life. Saints rugby club is running a 'Fit for Life' scheme which is targeting Year 10 pupils. The sessions at the club help the teenagers with fitness training and dietary advice. A cyber-cafe is a planned feature of the three-year scheme.

Improving sport facilities for physically disadvantaged. The Federation of Disability Sport is encouraging physically disadvantaged sportsmen and women to enjoy mainstream sports activities like basketball and fitness training, thanks to specialist equipment installed in leisure and community centres.

Helping the elderly. Older people living in council housing are feeling the winter benefit of the cold alarm pilot scheme -- if their house temperature drops to a danger level, the alarm triggers an emergency response.

Back to education. Teenage parents are being encouraged to return to their studies through a back to education course. The course is in an out-of-school setting that offers childcare facilities.