A scheme to reward council workers with extra holiday for not taking sick leave has helped to save more than £30,000.

Last September, Richmondshire District Council started offering a day off to staff who resisted taking 'sickies' .

A year later 129 employees are now looking forward to an additional day off.

The scheme was the idea of Pauline Ohr, head of personnel. She said: "We thought this would be a way of encouraging people not to take a day off for the 'Monday morning blues' or having a 'duvet day', as we call them.

"People got quite competitive towards the end of the year and were determined not to be ill and lose their day's leave."

Coun Wendy Morton, chairman of the council's resources committee, said: "It's very encouraging. There is always scope for improvement but I think the scheme is having an impact in the council.

"If the downward trend continues it means we are bucking the national trend, which is for sickness rates to rise."

On average, Richmondshire council workers took 8.1 days off sick in 2003/04, compared to 10.24 days in 2002/03.

This means the council saved £40,369 in the past financial year. Deducting the £7,158 cost of giving the extra days' holiday means the net saving was £33,211.

Coun Morton said she was pleased the council had managed to make savings without resorting to measures taken by other authorities in North Yorkshire.

York Council plans to make its workers in the adult services department contact private healthcare group Active Health when sick. An occupational health nurse will then advise on treatment and check on their progress in an effort to cut sickness absence and save money.

The 1,000-strong department annually loses 28 days per full-time staff member, at a cost of £2.3m - more than double the council average of 12.2 days.

Richmondshire Council will decide at a meeting today if its sickness reward scheme should be continued for another year