STAFF at a chemists in Guisborough have signed up to their new running club and weight-loss programme.

Boots on the town’s Westgate are marking National Obesity Week to help the town shape up.

As well as hitting the pavements twice a week, employees are taking part in the store’s 12-week healthy living programme that includes free weekly weigh-ins, healthy recipe information and free advice about losing weight, calorie intake, exercise and body-mass index.

Lindsay Clode, store manager of the Healthy Living Pharmacy, said: “So many people make a New Year’s resolution to lose weight but too many just go on another crash diet, only to put the weight back on once they stop.

“We want to promote a lifestyle change to our customers and help make Guisborough a fitter, healthier town. It’s about making small changes one step at a time by developing healthier eating habits and being more active.

“So many people still have an old-fashioned view of pharmacies being only for prescriptions and medicines, but we are right at the heart of our local community - knowledgeable, accessible and passionate about our customers’ health.”

For more information about the Boots Westgate run group and weight-management sessions call in at the pharmacy or email lindsay.clode@boots.com