NATIONAL calls to cut sugar intake among both young people and adults have been backed by St Helens Council.

The local authority's public health team, which joined forces with the Star for the Swap the Pop campaign that urged people to cut out sugary and high caffeine drinks, says Public Health England's research mirrors its own findings.

The national research suggests marketing, promotions and advertising is contributing to an increase in sugar consumption. The amount of sugar in manufactured food is also hidden.

The evidence review suggests restricting price promotions and advertising of high sugar products, introducing a tax on high sugar products and reducing the sugar content in and portion size of everyday food.

In a statement the council said sugar is one of the main causes of children and adults being overweight and of tooth decay.

Two in three adults in St Helens are overweight and one in three children in St Helens are overweight by the time they are 11.

One in three children are affected by tooth decay by the time they are five years old.

The Swap the Pop campaign followed action at Haydock High School, where young people were shocked to discover that some of their drinks had as much as 15 teaspoons of sugar and high levels of caffeine.

After dropping the sugary drinks, teachers reported an all-round improvement in pupil behaviour.

Liz Gaulton, director of public health in St Helens, added: "The Public Health England report presents the best evidence from across the world for what works in reducing the amount of high sugar food and drink that we have.

"As many of the sugar is hidden it can be difficult to avoid sugar and the recommendations in this report will help to make healthy choices the easy choices.”