SHOPPERS with an eye for a bargain were able to grab a free blood pressure check on September 2, when Holsworthy Rotarian Elizabeth Jones took the Know your Numbers! Week to the Market Square.

Know your Numbers! Week is the nation's biggest blood pressure testing event run by UK charity the Blood Pressure Association (BPA), which asked Holsworthy residents 'Could you be the one in three who has high blood pressure?'

One in three adults in the UK — that's 16 million — have high blood pressure, yet a third of those who have the condition don't even know because it has no symptoms.

Untreated it can cause stroke, heart attack and heart failure, but once it's diagnosed high blood pressure can be very successfully managed.

During last year's Know your Numbers! Week, 41 per cent of those tested in Devon were found to have high blood pressure readings, and a shocking 72 per cent did not know their blood pressure numbers.

Elizabeth Jones, a former Modern Matron in Holsworthy Community Hospital, and also a District Nurse for 18 years, was joined by fellow nurse Arlene Gould, and other Holsworthy Rotarians to carry out blood pressure checks in Holsworthy Pannier Market.

The Holsworthy 'Pressure Station' was one of 1,500 taking part in Know your Numbers! 2009.

Mike Rich, Executive Director of the Blood Pressure Association, said: "We are delighted Elizabeth Jones brought Know your Numbers! Week and free blood pressure checks to Holsworthy Market. During this year's event we're asking 'Could you be the one in three?' because one in three UK adults has high blood pressure, yet millions have no idea they have the condition, and are unknowingly putting themselves at risk of stroke and heart attack."

If you have a question about high blood pressure and would like to speak to someone over the phone, call the Blood Pressure Association's Information Line on 0845 2410989 (Monday to Friday, 11am-3pm).