PENDLE and Rossendale have been chosen to pilot a new healthy lifestyle scheme.

The £200,000 project is aimed at reducing health inequalities and increasing the activity levels of inactive people.

If the scheme is successful then it could be rolled out across the other borough councils in East Lancashire.

Philip Mousdale, Pendle Council’s deputy chief executive, said: “Discussions have recently taken place between representatives of Public Health Lancashire and the East Lancashire Districts and Leisure Trusts on a joint Re:fresh initiative across the area based on a similar initiative which has been operating in Blackburn for several years.

“It would focus on increasing the activity levels of currently inactive people in particular amongst less well off families, the elderly, children and young people, and ethnic minority communities.

“It would bring together and coordinate existing council and Leisure Trust services and other community projects with a single point of registration access via a dedicated website thus enabling monitoring and evaluation of the impact and efficacy of the initiative.

“Using present networks, activities such as health checks, taster sessions, free leisure and recreation sessions and specialist instructor training would be made available to target groups.”

Each council will receive £60,000 for the scheme from Public Health Lancashire, with a further £40,000 sourced in match funding.