There were 13 deaths from alcohol-related illnesses per year for every 100,000 people between 2001 and 2003, according to latest figures.

The victims were suffering from conditions such as liver disease.

But although health bosses say the figure is alarming, it is far lower than other parts of the region.

Blackpool is the country's worst area, with 30.4 deaths per 100,000.

Manchester is second with 22.9 followed by Liverpool with 22.1, Barrow-in-Furness with 21.2 and Salford with 20.6. The national average for men and women combined is 14.7

In Bolton, the death rate among men is 16.3. The female equivalent is 10.1.

The Office for National Statistics reports that while deaths caused by drinking are continuing to rise across the country, there were huge variations between regions.

The North-west had 15 deaths per 100,000 as a whole from 2001 to 2003, which is a rate almost double that for the east of England, which had just 7.7.