HUNDREDS of people suffered 'deaths of despair' in Bradford over a three-year period, new analysis has found.

Researchers from the University of Manchester studied coroners' court records from 2019-21.

Their analysis showed 46,200 people lost their lives due to drugs, alcohol or suicide in England - also known as 'deaths of despair'. 

In Bradford, there were 227 deaths linked to alcohol, 124 caused by drugs and 116 suicides reported during the same period – which includes the start of the coronavirus pandemic - meaning there were a total 467 'deaths of despair' locally. 

The team behind the study called for greater action to prevent deaths from drugs, alcohol and suicide, and said the Government must improve the inequalities found across England.

A Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "The Government is committed to narrowing the gap in healthy life expectancy by 2030 and to increasing healthy life expectancy by five years by 2035.

"Spending on mental health has increased by more than £4.5billion in cash terms since 2018-19.

"We've published a 10-year plan for tackling drug and alcohol-related harms and are investing an extra £532million between 2022-23 to 2024-25.

"Our ambitious plans for a smokefree generation will also save tens of thousands of lives."