Male rail commuters were greeted by nurses at Witham station as they arrived back from work.

But wives and girlfriends need not worry the warm welcome was part of Braintree Council's promotion of men's health week.

About 40 men took advantage of free medical advice at the station health check last night, which was offering information on all aspects of health.

Chair of Braintree Men's Health Working Group, Kryshia Fuller, said: "It went really well. We handed out leaflets in the morning and there was quite a few people with leaflets still in their hands looking for us in the afternoon."

Nurses carried out blood pressure checks as well as offering the service to encourage men to take better care of their health and to make more use of health services in the area.

Mrs Fuller revealed the medical staff identified high blood pressure in some men who were checked.

She said: "Some also enquired about prostate and testicular cancer.

"And we also encouraged people to register with their surgery because many do not change their doctor when they move to Witham."

Published Thursday, June 12, 2003

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