CRICKET teams from Middlesbrough took to the crease yesterday as part of a project encouraging men to take more care of their health.

The first Healthy Living in Middlesbrough Cricket Tournament took place at Prissick Base in the town and attracted 110 players from the black and ethnic minority community.

The event was arranged by Imran Naeem, men's health project officer at Middlesbrough Council, Barbir Noor, from the Black and Ethnic Minority Community Organisations Network and the Middlesbrough Asian Cricket Association.

Mr Naeem's project aims to encourage men from the black and ethnic minority community who are over the age of 35 to be more physically active and eat a healthier diet.

Councillor Barry Coppinger, the council's executive member for community safety and leisure, said: "Poor diet and a lifestyle that is short on physical activity are two main causes of poor health in Middlesbrough, particularly heart disease and cancer.

"We need to encourage people to make big changes in lifestyle to narrow the health gap between Middlesbrough and the rest of the country, and events like this are a very good step down that route."