GRANDFATHER Brian Derbyshire knows the importance of healthy living.

The 66-year-old former engineer has suffered two heart attacks, and was forced to quit work because of his ailing health.

And his father died from a heart attack aged 48 when Mr Derbyshire was just nine-years-old.

Now, he is urging everyone eligible to have The BIG Bolton Health Check, before it is too late.

Mr Derbyshire, of Ribchester Grove, Breightmet, said: "Having the heart attacks has completely changed my life. I used to do a lot of dancing and enjoyed my job but all that had to stop. My wife has looked after me so well and I'm very grateful to her.

"If there's anything people can do to stop this happening to them, then I would strongly urge them to. Prevention is always better than having to live with the aftermath of this, no matter what the test results show."

It was while on holiday with his wife, Betty, in Torquay, when he was aged 49 that he suffered his first heart attack.

Mr Derbyshire, who has five grandchildren and one step-grandson, spent two weeks in hospital in Plymouth before being brought back to Bolton.

He said: "I remember being allowed to get out of bed for the first time and being really pleased, but when I looked in the mirror an old man was staring back at me and it was terrifying."

Gradually, he returned to full health and went back to work, but tragedy struck again when he was 51-years-old and he had a second heart attack.

This forced him to give up his job and radically alter his lifestyle and diet.

Mr Derbyshire said: "I no longer eat any fatty food and try to get any exercise that I can manage but it has been hard."

Health bosses are aiming to test 46,000 people aged over 45 in Bolton before the end of March next year.

It is estimated as many as 10,000 people in the borough could be at a high risk of developing heart disease in the next decade.

The BIG Bolton Health Check, launched last month in conjunction with The Bolton News, takes just 10 minutes and involves a finger prick test to check cholesterol, a blood pressure check and a few lifestyle questions.

Tests are being carried out in a range of locations, such as bingo halls, betting shops, pubs and barbers, as well as in GP's surgeries.