A HEART specialist has launched a scathing attack on a study which is striking fear into hundreds of Bolton patients taking a heart drug.

The study claims patients may be at risk of death from heart failure brought on by the drugs called statins given by their own doctors.

Bolton cardiologist, Dr Peter Scott has told the town's heart attack patients not to panic and to continue taking the drugs to reduce cholesterol.

Dr Scott, consultant cardiologist at the Royal Bolton Hospital dismissed the new study as "theoretical".

The American research suggests statin drugs could cause an "epidemic" of heart failure.

In Bolton, GPs and hospital doctors spend more than £250,000 a month on the prescribing cholesterol-reducing drugs.

Statin drugs are taken by one million people each day in the UK to reduce the risk of heart disease and strokes.

They have been hailed as a "wonder drug" because statins block the body's production of the cholesterol which leads to heart attacks and strokes.

But a new study in the US reveals the drugs also depletes the body's ability to produce coenzyme Q10, (CoQ10) which is essential for the heart.

Lowered levels of this vital nutrient results in heart failure and death, the new research suggests.

They admit that it is only a small pilot study but it has sparked fears among people in Bolton taking the drug.

Bolton's legacy of heart disease means the town spends a higher than average amount of money on statins.

US cardiologist Dr Peter Langsjoen, the author of the study said: "I think people taking statins should be very worried. I don't think this can be ignored."

However, Dr Scott said: "Patients should not panic. This is just one isolated study. There have been lots of studies which show that statins have a major part to play in saving lives. Patients should be encouraged to continue to take them."

Dr Scott said the study was "scaring people unnecessarily".

Statins were first used in the UK in 1996 and are recommended as safe by the government.

Dr Langjoen, a heart specialist at the East Texas Medical Centre, added: ""This is not a theoretical problem. It's real and being ignored. "