ADVICE on healthy living was being given in Headley Down by Radian’s Wellbeing Wagon.

The wagon rolled into the village on January 19, bringing with it a raft of information on services.

The focus was on older people and families with children under five.

The Action for Children’s Daisy bus (linked to local children’s centres) parked up and proved popular with young children.

People were able to chat to partners from different health services about many issues, ranging from weight loss to growing food and healthy eating. Sid Dajani, an NHS pharmacist, offered diabetes checks, blood-pressure tests and health advice.

Advisers then addressed more general health issues such as giving up smoking, sexual health, domestic abuse and mental health.

A number of bikes were fixed by the on-hand “bike doctor”, and around 13 children got involved with the art-and-craft activities offered by Pauline Jordan from Hortic Therapy. Meanwhile, Donna Mcghie, from Art And Murals, showed them how to use old fabric to make book covers. The children also took part in a nature-themed colouring competition, judged by Angela Jackson from the Headley Down Nature Reserve Project.

A Radian officer dressed up in a “loan shark” costume to advise people about the issues involved with illegal money lending.

Pharmacist Mr Dajani said: “It was a quality event that will make a huge difference to everyone who accesses such support.

“And it was also a unique event in so many ways.”

Olivia Carr, community development officer for Radian, added: “The Health and Wellbeing Wagon is an exciting new project in which partners are working together to support our communities in a variety of ways.

“It was great to see such a collaboration of health and wellbeing services together in one place offering such a good mix of practical advice and information as well as actual health checks for local people.”