With increasing pressures from the global financial crisis and the everyday challenges and strains of modern life, stress builds up and undermines our ability to cope. This year National Stress Awareness Day is focusing on the pressures we create ourselves - in particular the 'worrying' habit.

The former St Helen's captain, one of the faces of razor giants Gillette, has just completed treatment at Sunderland's Riveredge Cosmetic Dentistry where he underwent dental work to repair damage sustained to his teeth during a 12 year rugby career.

Health First offer an automated massage from special beds and chairs which combine heat, air pressure and rollers to simulate the human touch. The cutting edge technology is reportedly popular in Asia, America, Australia and Germany.

Philip Lunnon, of Ettrick Health Limited, watched work start on the £17m Low Grange Health and Residential Care Village, in the Greater Eston area of Middlesbrough, and hailed the public-private sector partnership that is helping to make the pioneering development a reality after more than five years of planning.

The event, being held this morning at the Assembly Rooms in Newcastle, is being organised by Neil Johnson, mental health lead at Public Health North East and the regional Community Services Improvement Partnership.

Aluminium manufacturer Rio Tinto Alcan has joined forces with The Tony Blair Sports Foundation, which aims to get more people in the North East involved in sport by helping adults to become qualified coaches. Volunteers who sign up to qualify as coaches will have half of the costs of their courses paid for by the Foundation.