Deaths from heart disease should be eradicated among under-65s within the next decade, the government claimed yesterday.

Dr Roger Boyle, who advises the government on heart disease, argued that if the downward trend in heart deaths in men and women continued, deaths could be almost zero by 2012.

"Clinicians have been working their socks off to bring this about," he said.

"GPs, practice nurses, consultants, A&E staff, cardiac surgeons and all their teams have brought about these improvements.

"We are not going to rest on our laurels.  All the staff want to be the best."

It came as health secretary John Reid announced a pilot project to provide 24-hour angioplasty services.