REGIONAL winners of a health and safety competition were given serious lessons yesterday of how laughter is the best medicine when it comes to stress in the workplace.

Comedienne Kate Rodgers took the winners through humorous paces at a prizegiving at St James' Park, Newcastle.

On a more sober note, the Health and Safety Executive's head of operations, Ian Waugh, said: "Despite our best efforts to promote health and safety at work, provisional figures for fatalities and accidents during 2000 and 2001 have risen by 34 per cent nationally.

"This is no laughing matter, and anything we can do to highlight improvements and share best practice among management and workforce has to be welcomed.

"More people are suffering from stress than ever before and laughter is known to be an excellent antidote. Laughter should be taken more seriously for its therapeutic qualities."

The North-East winners were: ABB Eutech, of Middlesbrough; Age Concern, Sunderland; Bishop Auckland College; Fens Primary School, Hartlepool; Gateshead Borough Council/Unison; Hydro Polymers, Newton Aycliffe; Metro Radio and Magic, Gateshead; MGL Demolition, Newcastle; Rural Payment Agency, Newcastle; Southwick Primary School, Sunderland; Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, Middlesbrough and Walkers Snack Foods, Peterlee.

Three winners of these will be chosen by the HSE to go to the national finals in Edinburgh, on March 21.