FOUR new rehabilitation groups are being set up in Bromsgrove to help residents struggling with arthritis.

Bromsgrove District Council's sports development team have secured funding from Sport England to set up the new groups in partnership with ESCAPE-pain.

The programme will integrate educational self-management and coping strategies with an exercise regiment to relieve chronic joint pain.

Hayley Gwilliam, health intervention officer, said: "Living with pain can be really debilitating and sometimes costly.

"This new programme aims to help people help themselves, making their lives more comfortable and reducing the cost of healthcare both personally and at NHS level."

Sessions will help sufferers to understand their condition, and take them through a progressive exercise programme to help cope with their pain.

ESCAPE-pain has helped existing members to reduce pain, improve physical function and the psychosocial consequences of pain, and reduce healthcare and utilisation costs.

The groups will be taking place at community venues across the district.

For more information about the ESCAPE-pain programme, visit escape-pain.org, or contact the council's sports development team on 01527 881404, or email hayley.gwilliam@bromsgroveandredditch.gov.uk.