Are you planning to get fit this year with walks in the country? Well take the chance now - because some paths could soon disappear.

A walk through Lancaster's urban footpaths could be a thing of the past if more money is not made available, according to a local councillor.

The Green Party believes that many of the area's 39 miles of urban footpaths could be threatened unless more funding is found to maintain them.

Lancashire County Council provides £1,326 towards the upkeep of the paths - but last year problems forced the city council to cut its top-up contribution of £8,000 towards path maintenance.

Now Green Party Cllr Jon Barry says he has had a number of requests from local people to repair the footpath around Abraham Heights and to the Lancaster canal - but he cannot get the work done because of lack of funds.

"Since the city council cut its top-up funding, the cash available is totally inadequate," says Cllr Barry.

"The county council should pay a realistic sum to maintain the paths. They get overgrown in the summer and are full of muddy puddles in the winter. These paths are a vital network to keep people off the road and also for them to enjoy walking in the urban areas.

"However, especially as winter sets in I am worried that their bad state means that they will become difficult to use.

"The Government has now recognised that as a nation we are far less likely to walk than in the past and far more likely to be overweight and suffer health problems as a result. Investing in safe and secure footpaths is vital if we are to improve health."