WIRRAL residents can access free blood pressure checks at a drop-in session in Birkenhead today (March 14) as part of an NHS campaign.

The free tests are taking place at Birkenhead Town Hall from 2-4pm, to coincide with the launch of the NHS 'Leave No Clues' campaign, which encourages those 40 and over to get a free blood pressure check at the nearest participating pharmacy.

No appointment is needed for today's session.

According to the campaign, the only way to detect if you have high blood pressure is to get it measured regularly.

Getting your blood pressure checked is a quick, pain-free process that could literally save your life.

As high blood pressure usually has no symptoms, it is estimated that 4.2 million people in England have high blood pressure without knowing it.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure can increase your risk of serious and potentially life-threatening health conditions, such as heart attacks, stroke, kidney disease and vascular dementia and more.

However, when high blood pressure is diagnosed early, it can be controlled through lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise or medication if needed.

Even if your blood pressure readings are normal, it's still wise to get rechecked yearly as part of preventative care. Numbers can rise as we get older or due to factors like stress and weight gain.

If you are aged 40 and over, you can get a free blood pressure check at your local participating pharmacy, without needing to book in advance. Find a participating pharmacy here.

For more on the campaign, click here.