Sick leave caused by the fear of a terrorism attack or war with Iraq could be to blame for an increase in absenteeism claims a North East council.

Easington District Council in County Durham has recorded an increase in the number of working days lost due to stress.

Days lost due to stress rose by more than 2% in the latest four-month period, and illness is now said to be costing the authority around �200,000 a year.

A report to councillors on Tuesday suggests anxieties caused by the fear of terrorism and war could be playing a part, as well as factors like stock market troubles.

Personal lives

Dr Jeff Morgan is an occupational physician and psychiatrist who advises a range of North East organisations on stress management.

He said: "When people feel stress they are feeling out of control in different parts of their lives at the same time, so then you understand this (terror threat) could play a part.

"As it is part of our lives that we have no control over, then it has a cumulative effect.

"The unpredictability of it makes people think that a lot of things in their personal lives are unpredictable too.

Society fragmented

"The organisations that people are working for can help, they can look at the way they communicate, the way they value people in their work, and look at things like bullying.

"They can also look at whether people have a balance between the needs of their families, and their responsibilities in the wider community."

He said modern society was becoming more fragmented and that people no longer had the community and family support systems of previous generations.