Alcohol consumption was the main cause of more than 350,000 hospital admissions in 2018-19, according to official figures.

A report released by NHS Digital reveals the number of admissions, which it put at 358,000, was six per cent higher than the year before and 19 per cent higher than a decade ago.

Sixty-two per cent of admissions for alcohol were for males and 40 per cent of patients were aged 45 to 64.

Thirty-eight per cent and 19 per cent of men and women respectively aged 55 to 64 were found to drink more than 14 units a week. In 2017-18, 65 to 74-year-olds spent the most on average on alcohol - £10.60 - each week.

The report also revealed that 5,698 deaths were caused by alcohol in 2018, a two per cent drop on the previous year, while 77 per cent of alcohol-related deaths occurred in 40 to 69-year-olds.