MORE than 2,500 children across East Lancashire leave primary school already overweight, new figures show.

The worst figure for obese or near-obese 11-years-olds is in Burnley at 37 per cent with Pendle close behind at 35 per cent.

In East Lancashire one in three young people are in the weight danger zones.

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In Blackburn with Darwen the number of overweight Year Six pupils was 30 per cent with Ribble Valley having the fittest at just 28 per cent.

The England average is 32.2 per cent.

The figures were released by the British Heart Foundation which warned that carrying excess weight into adulthood increases the risk of cardiac disease later.

Burnley council leader, Cllr Mark Townsend, said: "I am shocked. We need to act urgently."

Blackburn with Darwen's director of public health, Dominic Harrison, said: "Tackling weight issues amongst our children and young people is a key priority."

The BHF today called for a ban on all junk food TV advertising before 9pm to help improve children’s health.

Its policy director Mike Hobday said millions of UK children are exposed to junk food adverts during popular shows such as the X Factor and Hollyoaks.

Its analysis of government statistics showed that 610 children, 30 per cent of the total, in Blackburn with Darwen leave primary school obese or overweight.

In Hyndburn borough the figures is 330, 34 per cent; in Pendle it is 360, 35 per cent; in Burnley 370, 37 per cent; in Rossendale 260, 32 per cent; in Ribble Valley 190, 28 per cent; and in Chorley 390, 32 per cent.

Mr Harrison said: “I fully back BHF’s call to restrict junk food TV advertising.

"One of our biggest challenges is to control the known social risks that generate obesity, a key factor being the increasingly high amounts of sugar added to processed foods and foods advertised to children."

Cllr Townsend said: "I am very concerned this figure is so high.

"I want Burnley's children to have the best start in life and this is not it.

"We will work with all agencies to tackle this problem."

Lancashire County Council public health director Dr Sakthi Karunanithi said: "Reducing the number of children who are overweight and encouraging them to be more physically active is one of our priorities.

"We will be actively looking to tackle obesity, including a national sugar tax."

Blackburn with Darwen Clinical Commissioning Group boss Dr Chris Clayton said: "Parents have a responsibility to encourage their children to eat healthily and exercise to prevent serious health problems later in life."