A firm is giving away £10,000 to combat Blue Monday.

Today is Blue Monday the name given to a day in January claimed to be the most depressing day of the year.

It is typically the third Monday of the month and this year falls on Monday, January 20.

Cashback site Quidco.com is giving away £10,000 on ten streets up and down the UK including Colchester and Chelmsford.

Staff at Quidco will hand out envelopes which will contain a mystery amount of cash varying from £5 to £50.

They will be in Colchester town centre from 12pm 1pm and Chelmsford town centre between 5pm and 6pm

Blue Monday was first publicised as part of a 2005 press release from holiday company Sky Travel.

The firm claimed to have calculated the date using an equation.

But scientists suggest it is nonsensical and mental health charities claim it belittles depression and other mental illness.

Quidco is the country’s highest paying cashback website.

Partnering with more than 4,500 retailers, Quidco helps people buy better by giving them cashback every time they shop.

Read more: What is Blue Monday and is it really the most depressing day of the year?