A FOOD co-operative was launched in one of the country's most deprived areas yesterday.

The venture is the idea of Easington Primary Care Trust's Health Communities Collaborative Project.

A recent national survey revealed Easington District is ranked among the most deprived in the UK.

East Durham also has one of the nation's highest instances of coronary heart disease which has prompted the trust to look at innovative ways of urging people to eat healthily.

The trust has opened the Blackhall Rocks Food Co-operative, based at Kasko House, which aims to improve access to good-quality, affordable, healthy food by bringing villagers together to buy in bulk.

Residents are able to place individual orders with the co-operative, which then places a large order with a supplier every week.

Volunteers pack up the orders for residents to collect.

The trust is now planning to develop seven similar ventures by March next year.

Lucy Crystal-Smith, health development specialist at the trust said:"There is much work being carried out to raise awareness and educate people towards healthy diets - but there are many areas in the district which have limited access to quality fresh foods. This therefore limits the healthy choices residents can make.''

Karen Smith, healthy communities collaborative project manager added: "The development of food co-operatives will improve access to healthy foods and therefore have a major impact on the health of local people.''