A GOVERNMENT minister has been visiting Teesside to see how people are endeavouring to live healthier lives.

Faced with several areas where health is particularly poor, Stockton Borough Council and its partners set out to encourage local people to adopt better lifestyles.

The council carried out this work with partners which have included North Tees Primary Care Trust, area boards, Sure Start and Neighbourhood Management schemes.

Last year, the Government named Stockton as one of four beacon councils in England for its work to encourage healthy communities.

Stockton council claims a range of effective services targeted on areas in greatest need have helped steadily improve residents' health.

Public Health Minister Caroline Flint visited the Tees town this week to see for herself.

She met representatives from communities throughout the borough, where a range of activities, such as healthy walks, a smoking cessation service and a healthy schools project, are changing people's lives for the better.

Ms Flint also presented national Clean Air Gold awards to Stockton council, North Tees Primary Care Trust and Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust.

Councillor Ann Cains, the council's cabinet member for adult services and health, said: "The projects we have encouraged and enabled during our Beacon year really are making a difference to people's health, and will leave a lasting legacy for thousands of local residents."

Dr Toks Sangawawa, director of public health at North Tees Primary Care Trust, said: "The Minister's visit is a very welcome demonstration of support for our partnership with Stockton council and many other local groups. It was an opportunity for her to meet the people who are doing so much to reduce health inequalities within our communities."

The minister also visited Hartlepool, in company with the town's MP Iain Wright, and talked to residents and listened to pensioners' views about care provision for the elderly.

She was given a presentation of a number of health initiatives that residents within the area have set up to improve the health of their communities.

Ms Flint met with community wardens in the area to discuss their role in helping to improve community life and discussed with residents the difference that wardens have made to Burbank.