HOSPITAL bosses have backed calls by Balance, the North-East Alcohol Office, for a minimum price for alcohol to be set.

The support by officials at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust came as members of the Balance team visited Darlington Memorial Hospital and the University Hospital of North Durham to discuss the issue with patients, visitors and staff.

The visits were part of a regional campaign by Balance to raise awareness of the damage being done in the North-East because of the widespread availability of cheap alcohol.

Members of the Balance team are also encouraging local residents to back a minimum unit price of at least 50p.

The measure will link alcohol price to its strength, increasing the price of cheap, strong alcohol - such as white cider, super-strength lager and supermarket brand vodka. It will not affect the price of a pint in a community pub.

Balance want North-Easterners to sign a petition calling for a minimum unit price of at least 50p.

The team will be visiting hospitals, shopping and city centres across the region over the next couple of months to gather support.

Regional signatures will be used to inform a Government consultation around minimum unit price which is expected to launch in November.

Lee Mack, associate director of wellbeing at the hospital trust, said: "We welcome Balance's campaign. Our Trust witnesses first-hand the consequences of alcohol misuse - for example A&E attendances with injuries from drunken assaults or helping those who are intoxicated and need immediate treatment. We also treat those suffering from the effects of long-term misuse which can include alcohol-related liver disease, heart disease and various cancers.

"We need to stop this happening and back a minimum unit price of at least 50p now."