RIVER Park Leisure Centre in Winchester is set to take major steps to tackle child obesity thanks to a £47,000 grant from The Big Lottery Wellbeing Programme.

The centre has set up a programme to tackle the issue that is becoming a national crisis.

By 2020 at least a fifth of boys and a third of girls in the UK will be obese unless action is taken now, according to the Government.

The leisure centre programme will be known as MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition...Do it) and will focus on families with overweight or obese children. Healthy eating and active lifestyles are at the heart of the scheme.

MEND consists of 18 sessions over 10 weeks, and includes fun exercise sessions for the children participating in the programme, and theory sessions for the children and their families. It is free.

Paul Sacher, research director for MEND, said: "The aim is for every overweight and obese child to have access to a local MEND programme to receive the support and knowledge required to lead a healthy and active lifestyle."

Cllr Patricia Stallard, the city council's portfolio holder for culture, heritage and sport, said: "This is really positive news for the Winchester district.

"The River Park team is doing excellent work to encourage more and more of our residents to take advantage of the facilities it provides, dispelling the myth that leisure centres are just for those who are already fit and active.

"I look forward to seeing real and lasting results from the MEND programme."

For further information call the centre on 01962 848 700 or 01962 848 706.