ARMY recruits will be "at ease" when they support a national day aimed at beating stress.

Troops at the Infantry Training Centre (ITC), Catterick Garrison, are supporting the Samaritans' Stress Down Day on February 1.

A relaxing lunch time session will be held at the Beharry Centre at the ITC, which puts about 2,700 recruits through the combat infantryman course each year.

As the soldiers eat and put their feet up, they will be entertained by a juke box which is being loaned free of charge by the Betterdaze party company.

There will also be a raffle with a top prize of an overnight stay for two at the Scotch Corner Hotel. Balloons and lollipops will add to the party atmosphere and Samaritan pens will be for sale.

Garrison Radio will be supporting the event together with the Women's Royal Voluntary Service and HIVE, the information office at the garrison which provides welfare support.

The event is the second national Stress Down Day and is designed by the Samaritans to highlight how stress in the workplace can affect emotional health. Workers are encouraged to wear slippers to work in return for a donation to the Samaritans.

Regimental Sergeant Richard Ellis said: "The emotional well-being of our recruits is paramount to the Army and, whilst we give our recruits as much support as possible, we acknowledge that sometimes a recruit with problems might want to speak to someone outside the Army.

"We are grateful for the work Samaritans do to back up our own welfare schemes and pleased we can support them in return."

The 60 volunteers at the charity's Northallerton branch handle about 19,000 calls a year, some from Army personnel and their wives and partners. Samaritans can be reached on 01609 776161 or by e-mailing jo@samaritans.org.