THOUSANDS of people benefited from walk-in health checks across Huddersfield and West Yorkshire.

It was the biggest voluntary community health check ever in Yorkshire.

Medical volunteers staffed about 60 walk-in clinics in supermarkets, church halls and offices across West and North Yorkshire, and checked more than 8,000 people's blood pressure.

The campaign was organised by more than 60 Rotary Clubs in the region, under the guidance of co-ordinator Dr John Philip, of Huddersfield, a recently retired hospital consultant.

Some 600 Rotary volunteers were available at the clinics to offer advice and help.

Dr Philip said: "Unrecognised raised blood pressure is a major threat to health. But, many people with raised blood pressure do not realise that they are a time bomb.

"Raised pressure slowly damages vital organs and for a long time produces no tangible signs.

"Most instances of high blood pressure are diagnosed during routine consultations for unconnected problems.

"In some instances it is recognised only when a major complication arises.

"Among the major complications are brain haemorrhage resulting in stroke, heart attack and damage to vital organs like the kidney and the eye.

"If raised blood pressure is recognised at an early stage such devastating complications can be prevented. High blood pressure can be managed in a proportion of cases by non-medical means, often by lifestyle changes."

Dr Philip added: "Rotary members are eager to demonstrate that we care for the communities and want to harness our enormous skills and influence to enhance community life.

"We live in a fragmented society where many voluntary organisations are struggling to define a role for themselves.

"Rotary is pioneering a number of community projects to enrich our community life," he said.

"In addition to this BP checking campaign, we are now involved in a donor campaign to increase the number of blood and organ donors and a campaign to make Yorkshire greener by planting 8,000 trees."