Founder of The Body Shop empire Dame Anita Roddick will be offering a helping hand to men with their Christmas shopping.

Dame Anita and staff will be offering advice and guidance at the North Street branch, Brighton, tomorrow from 5.30pm.

Adventurous men can also enjoy free skin care advice, body treatments, eyelash tints, facials and massages.

The Body Shop was inspired to hold evenings for men after a survey it commissioned revealed the number of people in Brighton who are happy with the gifts they receive at Christmas is lower than the national average.

The Are You Being Served, Sir survey also highlighted a fifth of male shoppers in Brighton only shop where they feel comfortable.

Dame Anita said: "Having seen the results, we felt it was only right we offered Brighton men a helping hand in a friendly environment. Hopefully, as a result, there will be less men wandering the High Street looking stressed and confused."

In the survey, just over half the women questioned said they were very satisfied with the gift bought by their partner.

The results revealed 15 per cent of men in Brighton admitted to waiting until Christmas Eve to do their shopping and 40 per cent confirmed they listen carefully to partners' hints.

The men-friendly evenings will be held every Thursday in the run-up to Christmas.

Wednesday December 10, 2003