THE stress of waiting for flights at Manchester Airport will be soothed away this weekend - with massages for weary travellers.

Complementary therapists from the Christie Hospital will be giving on-the-spot 10-minute massages for £5 while passengers check in or wait for their flights.

The money raised will go directly to Christie's, Europe's largest specialist cancer treatment centre.

Peter Mackereth, complementary therapy co-ordinator at Christie's, organised the event following the success of previous charity massage days, including a recent day at the Harvey Nichols store in Manchester which raised almost £800.

He said: "People waiting for flights will be able to sit down for 10 minutes and boost their energy levels enormously.

"A bit of complementary therapy will certainly help relax them and make sure they're in the right frame of mind to enjoy their holiday.

"As well as feeling a whole lot better, they will help raise vital funds for Christie patients and their carers."

Eight qualified complementary therapists will provide the massages, which will be performed over normal clothes and take place on a special massage chair.

The complementary therapists all work at the Christie Hospital, where they provide massages and other complementary therapy treatments to cancer patients and their carers.

Massages provide a host of benefits to make the symptoms of cancer more tolerable.

"These include help with nausea, pain, anxiety and sleep.

Since June 2002, the therapists have offered free massages to carers by the patient's bedside. The scheme won the prestigious Prince of Wales Award last year for Good Practice in Integrated Health Care.