SOUTHAMPTON medical research charity Hope has launched a new appeal across Hampshire to help halve heart disease.

Research funded by the organisation and carried out at the University of Southampton has proved that there is a link between heart disease in adults and the way in which they grew as babies.

Hope's appeal letter, which has been sent out to more than 4,000 households across the county, explains that the way in which a baby's cardiovascular system grows sets a pattern for its whole life.

A healthy baby will have a much better chance of avoiding heart disease and other conditions such as osteoporosis.

However, a baby whose heart, circulatory system and other vital organs are not well formed will have a much greater chance of suffering from these diseases.

Hope director Ray Kipling told the Daily Echo: "Many parts of the body, including the vital cardiovascular system, are formed in the baby and do not regenerate.

"Once we come up with the answers, we could have the key to dramatically cutting heart disease in future generations. But we can only do this if we can raise the money for the next phase of the research."

The latest Hope appeal has a target of £1m and the charity is stressing that every donation, of whatever size, will help its work.

To make a donation, or find out more about the appeal, call Hope on 023 8033 3366.