HOLIDAYMAKERS are being told to take llighter luggage on flights from Manchester Airport - to prevent injuries to baggage handlers.

The move by airport chiefs is due to new health and safety guidelines aimed at avoiding baggage handlers from having to lift heavy suitcases.

From April 1, passengers will not be able to check in items of luggage weighing more than 32 kilograms (70lbs).

Couples are being told to separate their luggage into different cases to share the weight.

Passengers who do not will be redirected to a "re-pack" area where they will have to reorganise their bags.

John Spooner, managing director of Manchester Airport, which is owned by the 10 local authorities of Greater Manchester including Bolton Council, said reducing injuries to baggage handlers was a priority.

He said injuries were increasing each year and that two pieces of luggage weighing 20kgs (44lbs) are safer and easer to handle than one piece at 40kgs (88lbs).

Mr Spooner said: "If couples choose to use just one suitcase it mustn't weigh more than 32kgs.

"It's actually better for passengers to pack individually because that way they each get their full luggage entitlement."

He said more and more holidaymakers were choosing to use just one suitcase instead of packing separately.

Passengers at other airports also face stricter baggage rules. Ryanair, which flies from Manchester and Liverpool airports, says its checked baggage allowance is 15kgs (33lbs) per person.

Any excess over 15kg is chargeable at the rate of £4.50 per kilogram (2.2lbs) and, for health and safety reasons, it will not accept any individual item exceeding 32kgs.

Low cost airline easyJet, which flies from Liverpool, has a free 20kgs allowance, with the maximum weight for any single piece of baggage also being 32 kgs.