Drax Power is “going gold” after getting the highest possible award for having a healthy heart workplace.

The company got the gold level certificate from national charity Heart Research UK after it had activities like health promotion sessions and personal health assessments for staff and stress training for line managers.

Gill Eastwood, Drax's Occupational Health Advisor, said: “Health promotion remains part of the occupational health business targets at Drax. Achieving this award helps motivate the organisation as a whole to continue to be focused on all aspects of health and safety at work and the importance of looking after our personal health and wellbeing.”

More than 500 staff took part in the healthy heart activities, which also including heritage walks around Snaith and York, while more than 1,000 on-site contractors had health toolbox talk sessions.

Heart Research UK's Barbara Dinsdale said the company was a wonderful example of how employers can help their staff have healthy hearts.

She added: “The range of activities that Drax Power has implemented to achieve the Healthy Heart Mark employer award is a wonderful testimony to their dedication and commitment to the scheme."

The power station also used National Obesity Awareness week to get staff changing to a healthier diet, being more active and losing weight.

The company plans to continue the initiatives including the heritage walks, which were a particular success.