ONE hundred people from Warrington are to take part in a pilot scheme to identify those at risk of heart attacks or strokes.

Experts claim a successful trial could save thousands of lives and the NHS millions of pounds.

The guinea pigs will be selected by Fearnhead Cross Medical Centre and asked to go to the Specsavers store in Sankey Street in the town centre to get pictures taken of the backs of their eyes using a fundus camera.

A special piece of new software called iGrading CVD, created by Liverpool company Medalytix, will be able to tell if the volunteers’ heart and circulatory system is healthy too. Andrea Eaton, store director at Specsavers in Warrington, said: “We already use a fundus camera in a standard eye examination to help identify underlying health conditions.

“What makes this trial so interesting is that with the new software, scientists will be able to learn so much more about the circulatory systems of the people involved in the trial.

“It’s very exciting to have the chance to take part in this research.”