People living in the South West are much more likely to have a stroke, figures from the Stroke Association show.

The region has the highest number of previously undiagnosed cases of high blood pressure in the UK.

High blood pressure is the single biggest risk factor for stroke.

The Stroke Association tested the blood pressure levels of nearly 20,000 people from across the UK.

The South West came top with almost 30 per cent of those tested unaware that they had high blood pressure, closely followed by East Anglia (26.2 per cent) and the Home Counties (26.1 per cent).

The national average was 23 per cent.

Joe Korner, director of communications at the Stroke Association, said: "There is no doubt that blood pressure testing really can save lives.

"Every five minutes someone in the UK has a stroke - that's 150,000 every year.

"But over 40 per cent of those strokes could be prevented by the control of high blood pressure.

"We also know that many thousands of people are completely unaware of their own blood pressure levels.

"Many of those people have no idea that they have high blood pressure and that their risk of having a stroke is massively increased."

High blood pressure is often referred to as a 'silent killer'.

Around 16 million people in the UK have high blood pressure with many more unaware they have the condition.

Most people can be treated effectively and benefit greatly by making small but significant lifestyle changes.

Cutting down on alcohol, stopping smoking, reducing stress levels and leading a healthier lifestyle can all help lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of stroke.

Each year an estimated 150,000 people have a stroke.

Of all people who suffer from a stroke, about a third are likely to die within the first 10 days, about a third are likely to make a recovery within one month and about a third are likely to be left disabled and needing rehabilitation.