"ADVICE from next door" is the motto of five women aiming to promote healthy lifestyles in Oxford's most deprived areas.

The Oxford Health Trainers cover Rose Hill, Littlemore, Blackbird Leys, Barton and Wood Farm, and dish out tailor-made advice free of charge to anyone anxious to improve their health.

Anything and everything is covered by the health trainers, who have previously helped participants with weight loss issues, worries over sexual health and smokers determined to give up.

Now the health trainers are appealing for more people to come forward to discuss their health concerns in an informal environment.

Zoe Millington, project development coordinator for the health trainers, said: "It's been shown in statistics that in some areas of Oxford people have a lower life expectancy and they are not generally as healthy as people in other areas.

"Parts of Rose Hill and Blackbird Leys are known to suffer from these health inequalities so we are just putting some extra resources into those areas."

Ms Millington added: "We've had a very good response so far.

"The health trainers are not clinically or medically trained but they do get trained in changing behaviour, communication skills and learning to motivate people.

"They also learn about the main areas of a healthy lifestyle, like diet, exercise, sexual health, drugs and alcohol, and smoking.

"We've had people who've had to buy new clothes because they've lost weight and we had one woman who previously was not doing much exercise who has now climbed a mountain."

The majority of the health trainers' clients want to lose weight or do more exercise, Ms Millington said.

She added the team could help by joining clients at the gym or at sexual health appointments or by pointing them in the right direction for help with issues they were worried about, such as debt.

Rose Hill health trainer Michelle Thomas said: "We have had quite a few people who have improved their lives quite well.

"We can really help people - even giving somebody a shopping list can be beneficial.

"It is just a matter of making a call and being open to help."

To contact Oxford Health Trainers, call 01865 467327.