'Art attacks' bid to ease stress

The gallery hopes the scheme will soothe workers' nerves

Workers are being offered "art attacks" to reduce their stress.

Manchester Art Gallery is offering lunchtime tranquillity tours for stressed out office workers.

The gallery has teamed up with two of the country's leading stress experts to allow workers to take in some of the collection's most relaxing paintings.

The tours will span several centuries of art, and promise workers can "return to their desks rejuvenated, relaxed and more productive."

'Therapeutic paintings'

The gallery has teamed up with Dr Olga Gregson and Professor Terry Looker from the Department of Biological Sciences at Manchester Metropolitan University to select paintings seen as therapeutic.

The two academics are experts in the field of stress management, physiology and health.

The specially chosen paintings range from Pre-Raphaelite to modern, abstract works.

The tours will include paintings 'The Waters of Lethe' - by John Roddam Spencer Stanhope, 'Thomson's Aeolian Harp' by Turner and 'Summer in Cumberland' by James Durden.