RESIDENTS throughout East Lancashire are to receive questionnaires about lifestyle habits.

Health bosses are urging a total of 16,600 adults to answer questions about topics such as smoking and exercise.

A freepost envelope has been provided for the survey, which was sent out last week and is the first to take place in East Lancashire for more than 10 years.

Mike Leaf, director of public health for Blackburn with Darwen PCT and Hyndburn and Ribble Valley PCTs said: "It will provide a bank of valuable and useful information to show how the health of East Lancashire residents is changing and what sort of services, and facilities will be needed in future to further improve health. We will use the results to plan better facilities for improving health over the next few years".

Dr Ellis Friedman, director of public health for Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale PCT, added: "This is a fantastic opportunity to find out more about what local people feel about their health. It is really important people fill in the questionnaires."