HEALTH workers have organised a car rally to get healthy living messages through to young men.

The Castle Cruise has been organised by Carl Bell, a health promotion worker with Durham Dales Primary Care Trust.

The event is on Sunday, June 12, at Witton Castle, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham.

Hundreds of customised hot rods will converge on the County Durham showground for the event, which is believed to be the first of its kind in the region.

Young men are notoriously difficult to engage in any sort of discussion about healthy living.

Mr Bell, who drives a restored 1989 Volkswagen Golf GTI cabriolet, said: "We wondered what we could do to get our messages across and I came up with the idea of a cruise.

"It will be a fun event with competitions and you don't need to be a car owner."

Drivers will compete for prizes, including £200 worth of vouchers.

Mr Bell and colleagues from the trust will be providing information on health-related subjects.

"We are talking about issues such as sexual health, diet and exercise, binge drinking, smoking and avoiding obesity," said Mr Bell.

"We can also raise the issue of self-examination to pick up early signs of testicular cancer."

The Witton Castle Cruise will also feature demonstrations by the police, fire brigade, North-East Air Ambulance, trial bikes and Thai boxers.

The 96.6FM TFM Roadshow will also be there.

Sponsors of the event are Hillprint Media and Motor World.

The Castle Cruise gets under way at 9am. Everyone welcome.