THE health and safety of thousands of North-East women is being ignored, according to a new report published today.

The report, The Health and Work of Older Women: a Neglected Issue, was compiled by the Pennell Initiative for Women's Health and the TUC.

Nationally, it shows that women over 45 work longer hours than younger women, have lower status jobs and have a higher chance of developing bad backs and injuries at work.

The Northern TUC will discuss the findings at a regional conference today, where speakers will include Gateshead East MP Joyce Quin and Jackie Woodall from the GMB, who will speak about domestic violence.

The event, which coincides with International Women's Day, will focus on older women but will also address health and safety issues that affect women of all ages, including the fact they are exposed to more repetitive and monotonous work than men and face extra work because they also have to run the household.