Bags of style; LET'S face it, women love their handbags. And at the moment big is most definitely beautiful when it comes to your arm candy. The likes of Kate Moss, Sienna Miller and Kylie won't leave home without their super-size designer version - but could there be a sinister side to this latest fashion? LEANNE BAYLEY investigates.

Byline: LEANNE BAYLEY

PHONE? Check. Purse? Check. Diary? Check. Kitchen sink? ... Erm, check.

That's right ladies, look in your handbag - I dare you. I bet there is more in your super-size bag than the daily essentials.

Coventry is swarming with fashionistas in the big bag brigade. They're the ones sporting skinny jeans and massive handbags, which are probably more equipped for a stint on a desert island rather than a day at work or university.

But would they carry around all that extra baggage if they were aware of the health concerns? It seems big bags, favoured by the likes of Victoria Beckham and Kate Moss are a pain in the neck - literally.

Women with neck injuries are on the increase and the main culprit? The handbag.

These concerns are based on a recent study which discovered that women today carry twice as much in their handbags as their mothers used to.

It does make sense. A generation ago women never used to own GHD hair straighteners, iPods or laptops. They were more likely to carry around a demure clutch rather than a monstrous metallic bag like we do.

But today, super-sized bags are everywhere; the high street's full of them, celebrities worship them and magazines say "buy them". But should the supersize totes come with a health warning?

Rosalind Beresford, a chiropractor from Coventry doesn't seem to think that's necessary.

"That might be a little extreme, women just need to look after their bodies and use their common sense," she said.

"I don't exactly have women rushing in pointing the blame at their handbags but I suspect in a lot of cases it's another thing that is 'the straw that breaks the camels back'. My job is to explain that, in most cases, it's a lifetime of postural misuse of the body which causes the more obvious symptoms to occur."

She believes that if women take more care they will be fine.

So carry on wearing the big bags but don't put anything too heavy inside - you don't need to carry the world, just the essential items you need for the day ahead.

Rosalind adds: "The most important piece of advice I could give to those opting for the big bag craze is to alternate the shoulders you carry it on, because by keeping it continuously on the one shoulder you risk injuring your neck by stretching the nerves.

"Plus, over a matter of time it can cause you to totally shift your body's stance as you hike the shoulder up which can shorten the muscles resulting in a twisted or lop-sided body position, that in turn can lead to back pain."

So there we have it ladies - but don't say we didn't warn you.

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PHONE? Check. Purse? Check. Diary? Check. Kitchen sink? ... Erm, check.

That's right ladies, look in your handbag - I dare you. I bet there is more in your super-size bag than the daily essentials.

Coventry is swarming with fashionistas in the big bag brigade. They're the ones sporting skinny jeans and massive handbags, which are probably more equipped for a stint on a desert island rather than a day at work or university.

But would they carry around all that extra baggage if they were aware of the health concerns? It seems big bags, favoured by the likes of Victoria Beckham and Kate Moss are a pain in the neck - literally.

Women with neck injuries are on the increase and the main culprit? The handbag.

These concerns are based on a recent study which discovered that women today carry twice as much in their handbags as their mothers used to.

It does make sense. A generation ago women never used to own GHD hair straighteners, iPods or laptops. They were more likely to carry around a demure clutch rather than a monstrous metallic bag like we do.

But today, super-sized bags are everywhere; the high street's full of them, celebrities worship them and magazines say "buy them". But should the supersize totes come with a health warning?

Rosalind Beresford, a chiropractor from Coventry doesn't seem to think that's necessary.

"That might be a little extreme, women just need to look after their bodies and use their common sense," she said.

"I don't exactly have women rushing in pointing the blame at their handbags but I suspect in a lot of cases it's another thing that is 'the straw that breaks the camels back'. My job is to explain that, in most cases, it's a lifetime of postural misuse of the body which causes the more obvious symptoms to occur."

She believes that if women take more care they will be fine.

So carry on wearing the big bags but don't put anything too heavy inside - you don't need to carry the world, just the essential items you need for the day ahead.

Rosalind adds: "The most important piece of advice I could give to those opting for the big bag craze is to alternate the shoulders you carry it on, because by keeping it continuously on the one shoulder you risk injuring your neck by stretching the nerves.

"Plus, over a matter of time it can cause you to totally shift your body's stance as you hike the shoulder up which can shorten the muscles resulting in a twisted or lop-sided body position, that in turn can lead to back pain."

So there we have it ladies - but don't say we didn't warn you.

Fact File - HEADER

AIMI DONNELLY, 21 (right), from Stoke, is a fan of the big bag craze.

"I carry far too much rubbish in mine," she admits. "I have my purse, phone, sweets, things like that. But then I also carry around lots of random things, like clothes and even socks.

"After carrying my bag around all day I do sometimes get pains in my shoulder and neck. But that's what happens when you have such a big bag, you just cram more and more into it.

ALISON BARNSLEY (right), 21, a recruitment consultant from Eastern Green loves her big bag she recently brought from Next.

"It's always full of stuff I just don't need in the day. It's ridiculous how much rubbish you accumulate.

"Even though my bag gets heavy it doesn't give me any pain.

When it does I'll find a new trend to work with."

CHLOE LAM (left), 21, a student from Coventry is known to keep her books and lecture notes in her daily bag that, along with all the other necessary handbag fillers, must weigh the same as a small child.

CAPTION(S):

OBSESSION... Leanne Bayley admits she can't resist a handbag - which is obvious by the size of her collection. Picture by Robin Bidgood RB100307BAG3; JB060307FASH1; JB060307FASH4; JB060307FASH5