The link between physical fitness and mental health will be under the spotlight next month as part of an eight-day festival.

Organisers of this year's World Mental Health Day events say they will be the district's biggest and best yet.

Exercise classes, basketball sessions, face-painting and head massage as well as information stands at venues across the city are among activities lined up over the week starting Friday, October 8.

World Health Mental Day is on Sunday, October 10, but co-ordinator Sarah Warner, who is chairman of Bradford South and West Primary Care Trust, says there is too much to cram into one day.

Mrs Warner said: "The theme this year is tying in links between physical conditions and mental health.

"A life-changing diagnosis can have a big impact on people's mental state. It could also be that people who have mental illness often don't look after their health because their medical condition doesn't let them or their medication makes it difficult for them to function properly."

She said one in four people will suffer mental health problems at some time in his or her life. It can happen to anyone at any time and awareness and information can help.

"We want o reach as many people as possible," she said. "Our message is that help, support and information are out there."

On Friday, October 8, shoppers at the Kirkgate Centre will find an information stand in the mall. The unit will be at Keighley Bus Station the next day. Women-only exercises will start at Manningham Sports Centre on Saturday, October 9, from 10am to noon, followed by a basketball extravaganza for men at the centre from 1pm to 3pm.

There will be an open day at mental health charity Mind's office, at Cornwall Place, off Manningham Lane, on Sunday, October 10 from 10am to 4pm and the health bus will be parked at Cannon Mills, offering face-painting and head massage from 10am to 2pm.

There will be more women's exercises at Keighley's Bangladeshi Centre on Monday, October 11, and volunteers from groups across the district have been invited to a Bradford Alliance on Community Care meeting at Carlisle Business Centre on Wednesday, October 13, from 11am to 1pm.

The information stand will be at Ilkley Literature Festival for two days from Saturday, October 16, at the town's Kings Hall in Station Road.