STUDENT nurses due to qualify next year are urged to help tackle one of Teesside's biggest killers - heart disease.

Staff from the heart unit at The James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, will hold a drop-in afternoon at the Express By Holiday Inn Hotel, in the town, today between 1pm and 7pm.

NHS staff looking for a new challenge or career are also welcome to go along to talk to staff already working in cardiothoracic medicine.

Chief of service for cardiothoracic medicine Dr Jim Hall said: "The Government has put a massive amount of investment into improving heart services and here at South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust we have expanded these services.