People from three Oxford estates are being invited to apply for roles offering health advice to their neighbours.

Oxford City Primary Care Trust has launched a recruitment drive inviting Rose Hill, Barton and Blackbird Leys residents to become trained health advisers, offering one-to-one advice on issues such as giving up smoking, healthy eating and sexual health.

The £45,000, year-long pilot will see up to five part-time advisors taken on, who will hold sessions at leisure and family centres in the estates.

They will be given training and, while unable to offer medical care, will be able to direct people to appropriate services.

Senior health manager Jackie Wilderspin said the move was part of a national public health drive, and was targeted at the three estates as they had been shown to have the highest need for local health advice.

She added: "The health provider's role will be to have one-to-ones with people to work out what their priorities should be healthwise.

"It could be stopping smoking, healthy eating, exercise. The health provider's role will be to tell them what's best for that person and where they should go to get help.

"We're looking for people from these local communities who are really good communicators. They don't have to have a background in the health service.

"They will learn how to use their motivational skills and to help people make up their minds about what they want to do. It's not for anyone under 16 but we'd like a split of younger and older people in the roles."

City councillor Ed Turner, who represents Rose Hill and Iffley, said: "It seems like an extremely good idea.

"There are really significant health inequalities in the city and I hope this goes some way to tackling this.

"What people on Rose Hill really want is a GP practice and if that's not possible, a nurse-led clinic, but this is a step in the right direction."

The PCT plans to have advisers in place by the end of May. If the scheme proves successful, it hopes to roll it out across Oxford in 2007.

Anyone interested in applying for one of the posts should call Ms Wilderspin on 01865 226787.