WALTHAM Forest has the second highest rate of women under the age of 65 dying of heart disease in London.

And the borough has the fifth highest rate for men in the same age bracket.

The figures released by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) showed that people under 65 in Waltham Forest had a much higher chance of prematurely dying of heart disease than those in other parts of London and the figures were above the England average.

The statistics in the BHF's coronary heart disease statistics for 2006 reveal that 66 in every 100,000 men in the borough die from heart disease. The figure is 20 per 100,000 women.

The London average is ten in every 100,000 people and the England average is 11.

The figures highlight heart disease hotspots in London, including Waltham Forest.

Waltham Forest Primary Care Trust (PCT) is one of the organisations responsible for cutting the number of coronary heart disease deaths.

Dr Pui-Ling Li, director of public health for the PCT, said: "We have highlighted in our public health reports that heart disease is the leading cause of death and if we eliminate major risk factors such as smoking, obesity and physical inactivity at least 80 per cent of heart disease would be prevented.

"Although the rate of death from heart disease is falling in Waltham Forest, it is still higher than the average for London.

"Diabetes is a major factor in heart disease and people from some ethnic minority communities are at higher risk of developing it."

She added that in the last few months the PCT had run campaigns and held awareness events on coronary heart disease and diabetes.

Dr Li said: "As well as working with family doctors on monitoring and providing treatment to people diagnosed with diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease, we are establishing at-risk registers for people who may be at risk of heart disease, including the development of a clinic for people with high blood pressure.

"This will enable us to do more to prevent heart disease."

Dr Mike Knapton, director of prevention and care of the BHF, said the statistics helped inform where most work needed to be done to reduce premature heart disease deaths in the future.

He added: "We need to continue reminding people of what they can do to reduce their risk and that means stopping smoking, taking plenty of exercise and eating a balanced, healthy diet, low in fat and salt and high in fresh fruit and vegetables."