THE ranks of musical health professionals are growing in one part of the region.

Following the appointment earlier this year of a guitar-playing Italian doctor with a passion for rock music, the new director of Sedgefield Primary Care Trust (PCT) has revealed his passion for singing.

Charles McCaughey has been appointed as director of primary care for the PCT in Sedgefield, County Durham.

Before that he was mental health project manager for the trust and was mental health strategy manager at the former County Durham and Darlington Health Authority. He has worked in the NHS locally for eight years.

Mr McCaughey is a member of a local company called Sing Live North East, which brings together singers from different backgrounds, ages and experiences, ranging from beginners to professionals.

The company has performed in London's Royal Albert Hall this year, is to perform in Florida this month, and last month performed songs from musicals with the National Festival Orchestra at Newcastle City Hall.

The group will return to the City Hall in March to perform songs from Broadway.

Mr McCaughey, who started in amateur dramatics and toured the club circuit, said: "It gives me great personal pleasure and helps take away much of the stress of life, my job particularly.

"There is no chance of being stressed when you are singing, it can only give happiness. I would recommend to anyone that singing is a great way of helping to improve our health, both emotionally and physically."

Earlier this year, Sedgefield PCT welcomed Dr Riccardo Benci, who plays electric guitar and keyboards, loves English rock music and whose biggest ambition is to play the lead in Jesus Christ Superstar.