Santa Claus may be making some healthier New Year resolutions after having his free NHS Health Check at a special screening shop set up by the Blood Pressure Association. 

The special visitor dropped in to the 'shop' at Vicarage Field Shopping Centre, Barking, (see photo) which is offering free ‘NHS Health Checks’, from blood pressure, body mass index and cholesterol, to diabetes and waist circumference testing, between 10am-6pm from Monday 30 November to Saturday 5 December.

Residents don’t need a white beard and a ruddy face to have their own free check – all local residents aged 40-74 are eligible, provided they haven’t already been diagnosed with high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, chronic kidney disease, heart disease, or have had a heart attack or stroke.

UK charity the Blood Pressure Association (BPA) and NHS Barking & Dagenham have set up the shop to help tackle the borough’s poor record of stroke and heart disease.

Click here to see photos and read the full story.