MANY people in the Bolton area will have been severely frightened by the news that the town is one of the worst places in the country for heart attack deaths.

Just released figures from the Department of Health show that more people die in the Royal Bolton Hospital than any other similar hospital after being admitted with a heart attack. We are right at the bottom of this national table.

Health chiefs have already defended their position, stating that the way this information is recorded leads to misleading results. But today a woman who well understands the situation on local heart disease -- possibly better than anyone else in the town -- also defends the local Health Service.

Anne Kaneen was involved at the forefront of coronary care in Bolton for over 30 years, both in the Royal Bolton Hospital and in the community where she spearheaded cardiac rehabilitation.

She was even awarded the MBE for her work, and set up the Bolton Cardiac Support Group 10 years ago.

She believes that medical care for local heart attack victims is still of the best, but blames the North-South divide for increased patient numbers here.

Anne also feels that many people living in this area are not receptive to healthy living ideas. We don't contribute positively to preventing incidence of heart attacks. In other words, we don't help ourselves.

We not only respect Anne's opinion but are forced to agree.

These days there is far more emphasis on healthy living , and there is healthier food and more exercise facilities available. In fact-- and really no excuse for chips with everything and a sedentary lifestyle.

Of course healthy living is not always the main factor in who suffers from heart disease. But it is accepted that the way we live usually has a major influence on the health we enjoy.

And it is thoroughly unrealistic for people who have chips with everything and lead a mainly sedentary lifestyle to blithely assume that heart problems will pass them by. Far more likely is a heart by-pass.