WOMEN entrepreneurs were given advice on how to beat stress - quite literally - at a workshop held by Bolton Council.

The session on stress management for business was held by the award-winning Ethnic Minorities Business Service (EMBS).

Part of service's Women Business Support Programme, the workshop was part funded by the European Regional Fund and ChamberLink.

Those who attended were first taught about the importance of music in relieving everyday stress in their business and were subsequently given a chance to beat out their anxieties with some drums.

An EMBS spokesman said: "The workshop helped raised awareness about the signs of stress and how it can impact on their businesses, as well as the causes and strategies for reducing it.

"The workshop provided participants with the tools they would need to produce a personal action plan for reducing their individual stress levels, improving their work-life balance, and ultimately make their business more profitable."

After the workshop, Aruna Shaw from Bolton-based Aruna Shaw photography, said: "It was well worth taking the time out to attend. You start to feel the difference straight away."

The next workshop will be "How to Be More Assertive In Your Business and will be held on July 7 at Bolton Business Investment Centre.

To find out more about EMBS or the support programme, contact Tasleem Ali or Aysha Qasim on 01204 336152.