POWERFUL drugs that can reduce the risks of heart attacks could be made available over the counter at pharmacies in Worcestershire within the next six months, Health Secretary John Reid has announced.

Statins - drugs used to lower cholesterol - are currently available only on prescription.

However, a consultation document published by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Agency, suggests that pharmacists across the UK should be able to supply the statin Zocor Heart Pro following simple health checks carried out on the spot.

Mr Reid said: "Independent expert advice suggests that many people could benefit greatly if statins were made more widely available, possibly saving hundreds of lives per year and preventing a higher incidence of coronary heart disease.

"Giving people the chance to buy a preventative medicine that they would not otherwise be able to get must be right.

"Just as people have the choice to give up smoking and improve their diet, we want them to be able to choose a medicine that will reduce the risk of coronary heart disase.

"The case for making statins over-the-counter needs to be looked at widely.

"But if generally agreed, this would be a far reaching move and one that we are keen to introduce."

The chairman of the committee on safety of medicines, Professor Gordon Duff said the first consideration must always be patient safety.