A second walk-in clinic for farmers was planned after the health issues they faced were highlighted.

Farmer Becky Land spoke to others in Teesdale about the problems they felt were affecting their physical and mental health.

The result was a successful walk-in clinic at Pinfold Medical Practice in Butterknowle, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, offering health checks specifically for farmers.

Land said the industry faces “the biggest challenge in a generation” and has one of the “poorest mental health records of any workplace.”

She carried out the work as part of her role as a community advocate at Durham County Council.

Following the success of the previous one, a second clinic is being organized, which will also include mental health checks for farmers.

Ms Land, who is also lived experience leader at Upper Teesdale Farming Support Services, said: “With farming at the heart of life here, the industry faces its biggest challenges in a generation and has one of the poorest mental health records of any workplace.” .

“I’m proud of my farming roots and the people I’m around, so having the opportunity to do this was amazing.”

Their work has sparked calls for more people to become community advocates in the county, especially in rural areas where there are currently only six volunteers – five in Teesdale and one in Weardale.

Independent councilor Chris Hood, the council’s cabinet member for health and adult services, said community advocates played a “vital role”.

“Being a community advocate is an opportunity to make sure your community’s voices are heard and allows us to take action to help improve health outcomes,” she added.