PEOPLE complaining of stomach pains, after eating "one too many" Easter eggs, were attending Accident and Emergency departments in the region over the weekend.

A social media post by the hospital trust which runs James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, and the Friarage in Northallerton, said people were coming into the casualty departments with tummy problems on Easter Sunday - caused by nothing more than eating too much.

The South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust post on its Facebook page said: "Believe it or not, we do have people coming into A&E with stomach aches caused by overindulgence.

"If you've had one too many Easter eggs and a big Sunday dinner' you're likely to feel better after a rest at home and drinking plenty of water.

"Some pharmacies are open this evening if you do require indigestion of other remedies for stomach problems.

"Please help us to keep A&E free for emergencies."

In another post, the trust said: "Earwax, stomach problems caused by overeating, false nails that won't come off, headache, period pain, colds and flu, sickness and diarrhoea - we have seen all of these in A&E in recent weeks.

"Please only attend A&E if you are seriously ill or injured. If you attend with a minor illness or injury, you could face a long wait."

Julie Suckling directorate manager of A&E at the trust, said many people mistakenly believed they could get a quicker referral to a specialist for ongoing minor illness if they turn up at A&E instead of going to their own GP.

She said: “Minor complaints that reoccur should be dealt with by a GP and you should only attend for assessment if you have an acute [sudden and serious] complaint, that requires emergency care."

NHS data showed recently that A&E delays in England has reached record levels. Figures for January from NHS England showed that 88.7 per cent of patients were dealt with in four hours, which was the worst monthly record in 12 years.

More than a third of attendances at A&E departments in England result in the person being sent home with just advice.

Just one in five resulted in a hospital admission.