Safety row as heart drug goes on sale

A drug which cuts the risk of heart attacks goes on sale over the counter from today in a move condemned by consumer watchdogs.

Britain will become the first country to make Zocor Heart-Pro available without a prescription.

The anti-cholesterol drug will cost about 50p a day and is said to reduce the risk of a heart attack by up to a third in three years. It is available to anyone aged 55 and over.

But the Consumers' Association says the side-effects are too risky and accuses the Government of cost-cutting. The health service spends more than £750 million a year on such medication.

But the Consumers' Association says the side-effects are too risky and accuses the Government of cost-cutting. The health service spends more than £750 million a year on such medication.