The number of people dying from heart disease in Bradford is falling.

Figures from the Department of Health show heart deaths have fallen by 28 per cent since 1996 in four primary care trusts: Bradford City, Bradford South and West, North Bradford and Airedale.

Dr Dee Kyle, director of public health for Bradford South and West Primary Care Trust, said: "It is very encouraging to hear the work we are doing is paying off but there is still a lot to do. Bradford has a higher rate of deaths from heart disease for a number of reasons including deprivation, smoking and the make-up of the population."

A spokesman from the British Heart Foundation (BHF) in West Yorkshire said: "The figures are particularly encouraging for Bradford considering the high South Asian population in the area." The South Asian population has a higher rate of heart disease.

Dr Kyle said about 60 per cent of the decrease was due to prevention and 40 per cent to improved treatment.

The Department of Health figures revealed 75 patients' lives were saved because they were given access to cholesterol-busting drugs called statins.

The BHF spokesman said: "Statins have made a significant impact on death rates but reductions in smoking, better treatments and more procedures being performed are also important factors."

Figures for all four Bradford Primary Care Trusts show a 28 per cent reduction, with 20 deaths prevented by statins in Airedale, 16 in Bradford City, 24 in Bradford South and West and 15 in North Bradford.

Nationally, there has been a 27 per cent drop in premature deaths and 25,000 people at risk of heart disease are still alive because they received speedier treatment.

"It's fantastic that Bradford figures are above the national average," said Dr Kyle.

Heart disease is still the UK's biggest killer.

One in five men and one in six women die from it every year and there is a heart attack every two minutes in the UK.

Obesity, poor diet, lack of exercise and smoking are all major factors. The number of people receiving cholesterol-busting drugs has increased to 2.5 million from about 300,000.

And the NHS has cut waiting times so, from next month, no one will wait more than three months for a bypass or angioplasty