A clinic has been launched to offer a screening service for men.

The Weardale Practice, in Stanhope Health Centre, Stanhope, has been chosen to pilot the clinic, which started on Tuesday.

The move, by the Durham Dales Primary Care Trust, follows recent publicity about self-examination and prostate awareness and comes after the trust took delivery of a bladder scanner for patients in the Durham Dales area.

The clinic will offer advice and tests which have so far only been available in hospital. If it is a success, it is hoped the service will be offered in other practices.

Anne Beeton, chairwoman of the trust, said: "We are delighted to be able to offer this important new service for the people of the Durham Dales.

"It has been developed thanks to the generous donation by the Graham Ford Charitable Trust of the diagnostic ultrasound bladder scanner, which was given to us at the end of last year.''