The Evening Chronicle's Lifesavers campaign has received key backing from health secretary Alan Milburn.

He said it was "sure to succeed" while on a visit to Newcastle's Centre for Life.

The campaign was launched by the paper a month ago to try to improve the health of people in the North East.

It has some of the highest rates in the country for obesity and death rates from lung cancer and heart disease.

The Chronicle-led campaign wants to boost the number of organ, blood and bone marrow donors, get smokers to quit their habit and encourage more exercise.

The newspaper has also teamed up with St John Ambulance to offer readers free first aid courses to help in cases of choking, bleeding or where resuscitation is needed.

The minister said: "I give it my full backing and really hope readers will do the same and take this opportunity to save lives and really make a difference."

Lifesavers has also been backed by local health chiefs and readers are signing up in their hundreds.

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