A CAMPAIGN encouraging elderly people to become more aware of the deadly pneumococcal disease has been launched in pharmacies across the borough.

Know About Pneumo educational postcards in four languages are now available in Tesco in-store pharmacies detailing the dangers of the bug which can cause pneumonia, meningitis and septicema.

Research shows almost 70 per cent of people have not heard of the disease which has killed more than 3,400 people aged 65 and over in England and hospitalised more than 18,000 across the UK.

People most at risk, and who should be immunised against the disease, are the over 65s as well as children under five and people suffering from heart, liver or renal disease and diabetes. In Bury, more than 7,000 people are living with diabetes and more than 21,500 have coronary heart disease.

Jackie Burns, independent primary healthcare advisor, said: "We need to ensure that the people who are most susceptible to infection with pneumococcal disease know about the serious nature of the illnesses it can cause and that the Department of Health has an immunisation programme to help protect them."