A NORTH-EAST department store has called in a vicar to offer its staff a very special type of retail therapy.

For the past six weeks, the Reverend David Herbert has been visiting the Debenhams store in Stockton, where he acts as support for staff who feel they need to talk to someone confidentially.

Neil Carter, store manager, was keen to invite the clergyman on board due to the success of a similar formula in the Debenhams store at Sheffield.

Mr Herbert said: "The conversations are dependent on what the staff want to talk about. I am not there to preach religion to them.

"Quite often they just want to come and pass pleasantries or some want to talk about problems they may have at home.

"They seem to appreciate having somebody to talk to and somebody who can listen, independent of everything else in their lives.

"The ball is very much in their court and everything they tell me is in confidence."

Previously a minister at St James United Reformed Church, Alnwick, Mr Herbert was ordained in 1993 and has been involved in a number of diverse chaplaincy roles - with the Army, hospitals and industry.

He is one of a few retail chaplains in the country, the nearest being at the MetroCentre in Gateshead, which has had one for a while.

While currently resident at the Debenhams store in Stockton's Wellington Street complex, Mr Herbert hopes to extend his service to other shops at the centre.

Mr Carter said: "We have introduced chaplains into other stores and have had very positive feedback. People today have such busy lives, it is important to have somebody to talk to and at a place that is convenient to them - what better place than in the workplace."