FRIGHTENING early death rates for residents of Blackburn with Darwen are spelt out on a new public website.

The borough comes 143rd out of 150 council areas in England for premature mortality and the county 103rd.

Blackburn with Darwen is 145th for both heart disease/stroke and liver disease and 139th for lung complaints as a cause of death under aged 75.

The easy-to-access website identifies smoking, drinking and diet as key factors in poor health across the North West.

Lancashire comes bottom out of 15 local authority areas with similar economic conditions for an early death rate of 304 per 100,000 population.

Blackburn with Darwen’s 354 per 100,000 compares to the worst rate in Manchester of 455 and the best in Wokingham in the affluent Thames Valley at 200.

Government experts said the ‘Longer Lives’ website was not to scare people about their risk of early death but give access to statistics about premature mortality and how to reduce it by lifestyle changes.

The website puts both the borough and county in the ‘red for danger’ category.

Blackburn with Darwen public health consultant Gifford Kerr said: “These figures are frightening, but it’s not about scaring people.

“It’s about giving them the facts and advice about how to change their lifestyle so they live longer.

“It is clear from the figures that drinking, smoking, diet and lack of exercise are key reasons for the high rates of premature mortaility.”

Borough public health director Dominic Harrison said the figures were ‘not new’, adding: “Life expectancy has improved over the last 10 years.”

Blackburn with Darwen is worst of 15 similar local authority areas for liver disease deaths at 26 per 100,000 and 14th overall in that group for heart disease/stroke and 12th for lung disease.

It’s best results are cancer deaths — 97th overall at 91 deaths per 100,000.

Lancashire is 95th for cancer deaths, 100th for heart disease/stroke, 106th for lung disease and 104th for liver disease.

In its group of 15 its comes 12th for cancer, 14th for both heart and liver disease and 13th for lung complaints.

A Lancashire County Council spokesman said: “It's well known we face deep-seated health problems.

“We are already taking measures on healthy eating, smoking cessation and reducing alcohol abuse."