Alcohol abuse is expected to claim the lives of nearly 63,000 people in England by 2022, according to new research.

Analysis conducted by the Alcohol Research Group at Sheffield University says disease caused by heavy drinking will cost the NHS £16.74bn to treat.

The 62,905 predicted deaths between 2017 and 2022 amount to 35 a day. The deaths are expected to consist predominantly of liver cancer cases. Alcoholicliver disease is also identified as a big killer.

Liver specialist Professor Roger Williams told the Guardian that liver disease is a "public health crisis" which must be tackled by government.

Campaigners have called for minimum pricing for alcoholic drinks to combat the problem. The researchers believe that a 50p minimum unit price would result in 1,150 fewer deaths over five years and nearly 75,000 fewer admissions to hospital.

The SNP wants to introduce a 50p minimum price per alcohol unit, but the legislation has been challenged by the Scottish Whiskey Association (SWA). The legal battle reaches the highest court in the UK, the Supreme Court, on Monday.

The European Court of Justice has already said the policy would restrict the market and suggested it could be avoided by the introduction of an alternative tax to increase the price of alcohol.