IN an unusual move, a North-East city is being mobilised in a bid to reduce workplace stress.

More than 150,000 UK employees are so stressed-out at work that they take at least a month off a year.

Now health experts in Sunderland have called a meeting of more than 100 local employers to try to do something about rising stress levels.

Today's meeting, at Sunderland University, is believed to be one of the biggest events of its kind to be held in the North-East.

Make Stress Work for You is a joint initiative between Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust (TPCT) and the city's university.

One of the main speakers is Tommy McDonald Milner, head of occupational health and safety at retail giant Marks & Spencer, who believes firms must take positive action to manage their employee's stress levels.

The M & S approach to stress management started with a questionnaire which identified which employees were most likely to be exposed to stress.

M & S then devised a stress management programme, called WorkWell, which involved four hours of training, delivered by the company's occupational health advisors.

Dealing with difficult customers is one of the most popular course options chosen by M & S managers.

Graeme Guthrie, Sunderland TPCT health promotion officer, said he was particularly pleased that small to medium-sized employers were attending, as well as larger organisations.