8,000 in hospital due to boozing

Excessive drinking has led to a large number of hospiatl admissions on the Fylde coast

In Blackpool, 4,200 people were admitted to hospital due to alcohol abuse during 2012/13 - 2,680 of them men, 1,520 women.

In Wyre, the figure was 2,300 for the same period, 1,440 men and 860 women.

And in Fylde, 1,560 people were taken to hospital suffering the after effects of drinking, 1,000 men and 560 women.

The figures were revealed in a detailed document called Statistics on Alcohol in England, produced by the Health and Social Care Information Centre.

The North West is one of the worst regions in the country for alcohol consumption, with Lancashire well above the national average for drink-related problems.

Blackburn-with-Darwen was just below Blackpool with 3,720 while Preston had 2,790 admissions to hospital over the same period.

The report shows men are the worst culprits both nationally and locally when it comes to drinking to excess.

In Lancashire they accounted for almost double the number of admissions of women (16,440 to 8,970).

Nationally the report says alcohol misuse is costing £3.5bn a year, or £120 for every taxpayer.

Rural Ribble Valley had the lowest number of alcohol-related problems needing hospital care (1,040).