FIVE boroughs are to work together to tackle alcohol abuse, as figures revealed that one in five residents binge drink.

Community Safety Partnerships from Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Ribble Valley and Rossendale councils will join forces with the East Lancs Primary Care Trust to develop a three year strategy to tackle the problem.

The group will focus on minimising the health risks, violence and antisocial behaviour associated with alcohol, while ensuring that people are able to enjoy alcohol safely.

Figures looking at alcohol-related deaths between 2002 - 2004 show that the average man in the boroughs cuts his life short by 10.9 months through boozing, while the average woman cut her life short by 5.6 months.

Ian Clements, non-executive director of East Lancs PCT, who will chair the strategy steering group, said: "We have all agreed that taking action to reduce the harm caused by alcohol should be a priority as part of a wider health inequalities plan to save a million years of life by 2011.

"We have realised that across East Lancashire the majority of problems we face in relation to alcohol are broadly similar and we therefore need to pool our resources to drive forward collectively."

The three-year strategy, which starts in 2008 to 2011, focuses on education and communication, health and treatment services, tackling alcohol related crime and disorder and working with industry.

As part of the education and communication theme, East Lancashire PCT is launching a major alcohol awareness campaign, Know when to say when' across the region in April.

It will also include working with Year eight and Year 10 pupils in Pendle.

A trauma and injury intelligence post will be established to improve data quality from A & E departments to provide a more accurate picture of alcohol related admissions and Pub Watch schemes will be developed to promote personal safety and sensible drinking practices.

Ian Clements added: "This is the first time we have combined forces to tackle a major social issue which is damaging lives in so many different ways. We want people to be able to enjoy alcohol safely and will be working together to achieve this end."