TONY Blair's Sedgefield constituency had the highest rate of alcohol-related deaths among women in the region in the six years between 1998 and 2004.

Forty deaths were recorded in the Prime Minister's constituency during the period.

When the number of deaths per 100,000, was calculated, Sedgefield came higher then any area in the region in a league table compiled by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the area was the 38th worst in Britain. The highest number of deaths from alcohol of any area in the region was in Newcastle (93).

For men, Newcastle again had the highest number of alcohol deaths (222), which ranked it worst in the region per head of population and 41st across the UK.

In its latest Health Statistics Quarterly, the ONS studied deaths from alcohol over two periods 1991-7 and 1998-2004 and found that across Britain, they had doubled.

About 8,221 people died from drink in 2004, compared with 4,144 in 1991.

The picture was mirrored in the North-East where alcohol-related deaths also doubled among men and women over the same period.

The ONS said that, nationally, alcohol-related deaths rose most rapidly between 1991 and 2004 among men and women aged 35 to 54.

The death rate for both sexes from alcohol remained highest in the 55 to 74 age group.

But most concern was expressed about alcohol-related deaths in the 15 to 34 category, which rose by 60 per cent in men between 1991 and 2004 and 57 per cent when it came to women.

The Institute of Alcohol Studies said the figures underlined the need for more to be done to discourage young people from drinking.

Director Andrew McNeill said: ''Alcohol consumption is going up in Britain, and going down in countries like France and Italy, because alcohol is cheaper and available at more outlets in this country than ever before.

''We live in the age of 24-hour licensing and the booze cruise. The consequence is that younger and younger people are appearing in hospital with alcohol-related illnesses.''

No area in the region featured in the top 20 areas in the UK for alcohol-related deaths for both sexes, which was topped by Glasgow.