A COUNSELLING centre has been appointed by the region's ambulance service to help staff deal with their problems.

The Breakthrough Centre, in Darlington, provides confidential counselling for ambulance personnel and has set up a support system for control staff in Newcastle.

Providing help for problems including bereavement, stress, anxiety, abuse and depression, it combines the pooled resources of counsellors Annette Gordon and Anne Burdess.

They formed the service at the beginning of the year to provide advice and training for the local community.

As well as helping individuals, the centre also offers advice to couples in relationships.

Having worked as a school counsellor for three years, Ms Burdess is well qualified to support children.

She said: "Counselling and support is important in all working fields. We live in a very stressful society, and ambulance staff never know what they will be asked to cope with when they pick up a phone or attend a call.

"Having someone to talk to who can skilfully listen is a big help."

The service is available to ambulance staff at stations throughout the North-East ambulance area from Morpeth to Darlington.

It can also be used by control room workers in Durham and Newcastle.