A CAMPAIGN to get more women active which features an award-winning fitness instructor from Blackburn has been backed by Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson.

Sport England’s 'This Girl Can 'campaign, launched in 2015, has encouraged more than 2.9million females to take up more sport or physical activity.

Now a new advertising campaign fronted by Blackburn mother-of-two Ruth Lynch has gone live to step up the drive to get women and girls involved in sport and fitness.

Mr Stephenson is encouraging East Lancashire groups, charities and sports clubs to apply for grants of between £300 and £10,000 from the This Girl Can Community Fund before its February 25 deadline.

Mr Stephenson said: “I’m proud to support Sport England’s This Girl Can campaign to get more women and girls active.

"The record numbers of women playing sport show that it has really struck a chord, but clearly more needs to be done.

"I’d urge local groups and organisations – not just sports clubs, but any community groups who work with women and want to arrange activities or classes to encourage women to get active and to apply for funding.”

Ms Lynch said: "I do a lot of work with women to help them overcome some of the barriers of getting fit, such as having a family or a full time job, or not being able to afford to join a gym.

"So it was great to work with Sport England on this campaign and hopefully encourage more women to get moving."