A UNIVERSITY is to study what makes middle-aged women tick.

Teesside University, together with Warwick and Edinburgh universities, is doing the research to find out how women from different backgrounds view themselves at this crucial time in their lives.

Using funding from the Economic and Social Research Council, researchers are particularly interested in what forms of healthcare and health technologies women choose to take up.

Among the areas being looked at are whether women make use of breast x-rays, bone screening for osteoporosis (brittle bone disease) and alternative treatments.

As part of the study, Teesside University is looking for women aged between 45 and 64 from a range of different backgrounds, who would be happy to share their mid-life experiences in informal interviews.

The sessions will take no longer than an hour and researchers are particularly keen to hear from ethnic minority women, wheelchair users, those who attend well women clinics and women who take part in sport and fitness activities.

A spokesman for the project said: "This is an important study which will aim to feed back anonymously women's views about their health and health care and improve future services. Everything women tell us will be treated in confidence and the names of all women taking part will be kept anonymous."

Anyone interested in taking part should ring Dr Thompson on (01642) 384480.