ABSENTEEISM due to stress and back pain caused hundreds of lost working days at the Bolton Council.

A team of managers, who introduced a scheme to help reduce sickness rates, have won a major industry accolade from the North West Development Agency.

John Daniels from Bolton Council received a Gold Health Auctioneer certificate from Kath Reade of the development agency.

The award is in recognition of the successful health plan run by the local authority.