PEOPLE can have their blood pressure checked for free at a series of locations next month.

Kennet District Council is supporting National Blood Pressure Week by providing facilities at its leisure centre for the checks which will be carried out by qualified staff.

The free blood pressure checks will be available at Marlborough Leisure Centre on September 13 between 9am and 1pm; Tidworth Leisure Centre on September 15 between 10am and 1pm and Devizes Leisure Centre on September 17 between 10 am and 1pm.

Anita Hodgson, lifestyles officer at Kennet, said: "The aim of National Blood Pressure Week is to drive home the importance of every adult knowing their blood pressure and what they can do to lower it, whatever the level.

"High blood pressure affects over 16 million people in the UK.

"The higher your blood pressure the greater your risk of stroke, heart attack and heart failure.

"High blood pressure rarely has any symptoms, the only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have it measured."