Davey'd fitness tip.

Keep on running - exercise works wonders when feeling depressed.

A recent report published by the Mental Health Foundation said supervised exercise programmes are one of the most effective ways of beating the blues.

The research concluded that 30 minutes of exercise a day had a profoundly positive effect on patients who had been suffering with depression and, unlike taking antidepressants, exercising has no negative side effects.

Chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson said: "Physical activity is as successful as psychotherapy or medication at beating depression, particularly in the long term." Always consult your GP if you feel very depressed, but do make the effort to start exercising - even if it's the last thing you feel like doing. Keep it going and you're likely to feel more positive soon.

Davey Veitch, at the Fitness Connexion, Hartlepool, is an exercise and rehabilitation consultant and every Tuesday he offers his top tip of the week.