The North West has the worst figures in England and Wales.

Thirty out of every 100,000 people died from drinking in the resort from 2001 to 2003, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

Manchester, Liverpool, Preston and Barrow had the next highest figures.

Brighton and Hove, Salford, Corby, Sandwell and Camden were also in the top 10.

The ONS said in 2003 there were 6,580 deaths from alcohol-related illnesses, such as liver disease, in England and Wales - up from 5,970 in 2001.

We are about 10 years from being where we would like to be Prof John Ashton, Director of Public Health in the North West

Men accounted for almost two thirds of those who died, while there was a large variation between different regions.

In the North West, there were 15.1 deaths per 100,000 of the population, compared to 7.7 in the East.

The North East (13.1), the West Midlands (12.5) and London (12.3) also had high rates.

In Blackpool, 43.9 men died per 100,000 population, almost three times the national average.

Prof John Ashton, Director of Public Health in the North West, blamed the "binge drinking" culture of the north of England for the problem.

Deaths per 100,000 of population Blackpool - 30.4 Manchester - 22.9 Liverpool - 22.1 Preston - 21.4 Barrow-in-Furness - 21.2 Brighton and Hove - 21.2 Salford - 20.6 Corby - 20.4 Sandwell - 19.7 Camden - 19.3

He said: "People drink more in the North and North West. Research has shown that people don't drink as frequently but when they do they drink more.

"The context is a history of industrial, working class cities and sea ports where, when people had money, they spent it.

"They worked hard and played hard and we haven't really moved on from that.

"We are about 10 years from being where we would like to be where cities like Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle are on a par with European cities where they enjoy a drink but don't go out to get really drunk.

"Manchester likes to promote itself as the Barcelona of the North, but there's no way it is when it tolerates the drunken chaos of Friday nights in the city centre."

'Ticking health timebomb'

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Paul Burstow called the new figures "shocking".

He added: "The Government sees alcohol as a law and order issue and is ignoring this ticking health timebomb.

"The regional variations in these figures are stark.

"The Government needs to think about more than just containment of the problem; it needs to deal with the causes.