FOOTBALL fans have been taking advantage of free NHS health checks in the hope of winning a set of new shirts for their team.

Veteran players from the Blackburn Rovers Indoor League were offered the check-ups by Blackburn with Darwen Healthy Living and Sport.

More than 40 players signed up as part of a F.A.S.T stroke awareness campaign event and were entered into the free prize draw, which is funded by the council scheme.

Caroline Holtom, healthy communities project manager for Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “It was really great to see how popular the health checks were and how concerned the players were about their health.

“Historically, men are less likely to see their GP than women.

“But I think offering the health checks in a relaxed atmosphere that was convenient for them meant that they were able to have a full NHS health check and discuss any concerns they had about their health with the nurse.”

Each year, around 150,000 people have a stroke in the UK. It is estimated that 40 per cent of these could have been prevented by controlling high blood pressure.

The check-ups include assessments of cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

They can help pick up on risks associated with heart disease, type 2 diabetes and kidney disease.