A BOLTON MP is backing the Government's campaign to raise awareness of the crippling bone disease, osteoporosis.

Dr Brian Iddon is supporting a plan to include osteoporosis assessments in the newly announced Retirement Health Check.

The Bolton South East MP said it would offer millions of women the chance the have the disease diagnosed early. And he believes sufficient funding should be made available to deliver effective treatments to those who need them.

Dr Iddon's backing follows the handing of a £500 grant to the Bolton group of the National Osteoporosis Society, which will use the money to educate primary school children about the problem.

The award, by the Community Foundation for Greater Manchester, will allow the group to target every single school in the borough in a bid to head off a disease which affects one in three women and one in 12 men.

Dr Iddon said: "The perception is that osteoporosis is an inevitable part of growing old. The reality is that urgent action can and should be taken to prevent and treat it.

"I am pleased to support initiatives that improve the situation for patients and I look forward to a time when women in my constituency can expect to receive an osteoporosis check along with their pension cheque."