City staff take 12 sick days

THE average number of sick days taken by council workers in Edinburgh has fallen.

A new report has shown that the average council employee had 12 sick days last year, compared to 13.7 days a year earlier - a 13 per cent decline.

Teachers also reduced their average number of sickness absence days, from 7.8 days in 2008/09 to 7.4 days last year.

In a council report, director of corporate services Jim Inch said the figures reflect "major efforts to address absenteeism".