HEALTH workers went to extremes to promote the benefits of a good night’s sleep – carrying a bed on a four-mile hike up Pendle Hill.

The Healthy Minds team from NHS East Lancashire began their intrepid journey about 9.30am yesterday, taking it in turns to carry the bed from the Nick O’ Pendle, just off the main Sabden to Clitheroe Road, up a footpath to the summit of the 1,800ft hill.

The idea to focus on a good night’s sleep came following a Sleep Council survey that suggested one in four people suffer from a lack of sleep.

Leigh Walmsley, mental health development specialist for NHS East Lancashire, who took part in the walk, said: “Some estimates put the number of people who suffer from lack of a full night’s sleep in one way or another at about one third of the population.

“That’s a lot of people who might be feeling stressed or out of sorts.”

The team are targeting hospital shift workers with their campaign initially, through a competition to win a bed.

Leigh, who is based at Eagle Street, Accrington, said: “As part of our public health duties at NHS East Lancashire, we know the important of getting a good night’s sleep and we thought it was a great way to make people aware.

"There was no chance of sleeping on the job though.

"The tough terrain meant we were kept wide awake and had to concentrate our efforts on getting to the summit.”

Healthy Minds team member Simon Dixon said: “I came up with the idea after a friend hired a pianist to play a piano for charity which he carried to the top of Pendle Hill.

"I thought this would be a good way to attract publicity for our campaign."

The campaign is to promote the benefits of sleep to improve mental health and coincides with National Bed Month.

They are focusing on those most likely to suffer from lack of sleep, such as shift workers and the Over 50s.

The NHS team visited shift workers at Calderstones in Whalley and Burnley General Hospital to give them tips on improving sleep.

They have run a competition for shift workers to win a new double bed provided by Sweet Dreams in Burnley and the winner will be announced in April.

Leigh added sleep problems are very common and can affect each person differently.

She said: "The message we want to send out is that not everyone needs seven or eight hours sleep a day.

"It depends on a person's age and does vary over their lifespan."