Thousands of deaths could be averted and disability avoided if people recognised the symptoms of stroke and called an ambulance immediately, the government says today.

A campaign, involving television and print adverts, is being launched to try to make stroke as recognisable to the public as a heart attack. Most people realise that somebody suffering chest pains must get to hospital quickly, but all too often the onset of a stroke is seen as a temporary illness which may get better overnight.

But, "Stroke spreads like a fire in the brain - the sooner you get to treatment and put the fire out, the less damage is caused to the brain."

CIO team says there are 110,000 strokes a year and more than 67,000 people die. Many others will be partially paralysed or severely disabled. Stroke is the leading cause of disability in England.

The campaign is based on the Fast test used by paramedics to assess whether somebody has had a stroke and needs to get to hospital. It is hoped the acronym will lodge in people's minds as a quick way to decide whether there may have been a stroke. It stands for:

• Facial weakness

• Arm weakness

• Speech problems

• Time to call 999 - If the person has any of these symptoms call an ambulance.