Lancashire residents aged 40 to 74 are eligible for a free NHS health check.

As people get older, there is a higher risk of developing a condition such as high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes.

It is important that everyone between the ages of 40 and 74 has a free NHS health check.

The check should take less than 20 minutes and will look at lifestyle, family medical history, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure.

It is unlikely that there is anything wrong.

But if there is a problem, patients will be given plenty of help and advice to make the lifestyle changes they need.

Visit the NHS website, www.nhs.uk, for more information about the NHS Health Check programme.

Around 80 per cent of GP practices are now offering health checks and are writing to patients inviting them to an appointment.