THE stress of the festive season has put relationships in the North-East under pressure, it was claimed last night.

Relate, the UK's largest provider of relationship support, has seen an increase in the number of couples seeking advice due to the demands of Christmas.

Calls to the service throughout the region have almost doubled over the past two weeks with couples saying Christmas had placed immense pressure of their relationships with spouses and family.

Weeks of worrying about money or debt, wrestling with hordes of shoppers, frustrations about how to divide time between families, and coping with awkward relatives were some of the issues Relate identified as problems.

Relate North-East chief officer Karen Wilkinson-Bell said: "The pressures of Christmas can often make the festive period an emotional endurance test for families and any cracks that have been papered over by the couple during the year can often be ripped apart during the festive season, especially when the realities of over-spending, over-eating and general over indulgence are exposed in the New Year.

"At Relate we encourage couples to talk about their expectations, how they were not met and what they can do differently in order to prevent a repeat performance.

"It's important too for couples and families to realise they're not the only ones experiencing difficulties, and that with help, they can work things through."