THIRTY people across the town have been given advance warning of high blood pressure thanks to a joint Rotary International and Stroke Association initiative.

More than 200 people got free blood pressure checks on Saturday in the Brunel Shopping Centre when the Rotary Club of Swindon Phoenix (provisional) joined the national initiative to reduce strokes in the UK.

The club joined scores of Rotary clubs across the UK offering blood pressure checks as part of ‘Know Your Blood Pressure 2012’, which is supported by Rotary International, The Stroke Association and the Ambulance Service.

It is estimated that around 16million Britons have high blood press-ure, and around a third are unaware of this.

At least 40 per cent of strokes could be prevented each year if people checked their blood pressure and took steps to control it.

David Coe, president of the Rotary Club of Swindon Phoenix said: “Nobody wants to hear they could be at risk of a stroke but a lot can be done to minimise that risk.

“If this event saves just one life, and we believe it has, then it has been very much worthwhile.”

For more information, call the Stroke Association on 0845 30 33 100, or visit www.stroke.org.uk/kybp.

For more information on membership of the Swindon Phoenix Rotary then please contact Geoff Beale by emailing membership.rcsp@gmail.com or call 01793 827407.