A PUBLIC meeting has been called for concerned Cookley folk after shocking figures put it bottom of the pile for health in the county.

Cookley district councillor Chris Nicholls is arranging the meeting after villagers contacted him over revelations in the Shuttle/Times & News last week.

County director of public health Brian McCloskey has agreed to clarify Cookley's position, which also sees it in the bottom 10 per cent for health nationwide.

Mr Nicholls, aims to hold the meeting towards the end of September.

He said he wanted the forum to be the spark for a long-term plan to tackle health problems facing the village.

He said: "I have called this meeting after being approached by quite a few worried residents.

"They do not understand why we have come bottom and are concerned as to the reasons why.

"While we need to clarify the situation and seek explanations, I want this to be the kick-start for looking at long-term solutions."

Mr Nicholls, who is a member of the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust board, has also invited members of the Wyre Forest Primary Care Trust to the meeting.

The Cookley health check was revealed in Worcester-shire Health Authority's annual report.

Prof McCloskey said new deprivation indicators, which covered a broader range index than the 1991 census, accounted for its position.

These took into account long-term illness, disability and low birth rate as well as standard measurements of mortality and disease.

In the report, Oldington and Foley Park, Kidderminster, scored lowest for overall deprivation in the county.

It came bottom of the list in income, child poverty and education in Worcestershire and is ranked among the 10 per cent most deprived wards in England.