AN action plan to improve people's health in Darlington is being drawn up as part of a ten-year community strategy for the town.

A range of preventative measures, including Japanese-style exercise-at-work programmes, better provision of fresh fruit and vegetables and ensuring people are claiming the right benefits, form part of the Darlington Primary Care Trust plan.

"No matter how much money we put into health services it will not improve health," said director of public health Nonnie Crawford.

"The community strategy is partly about preventing people from becoming ill in the first place.

"There is evidence of a significant under-claiming of benefit. We can step in to help.

"On the one hand this will ensure the wellbeing of the vulnerable, on the other, the money they receive will then be spent in the local economy."

The health plan will be included in a ten-year strategy drawn up by Darlington Partnership, which will also look at economic regeneration, learning, community safety, leisure, transport and the environment.

"We hope the strategy will be the overarching vision for the borough focusing on the things we want to achieve," said partnership chief executive Jane Brown.

"It should enable us to maximise resources and grasp all opportunities."