CAR owners are to be urged to go green and get fit as part of the biggest healthy living project ever undertaken in the North West.

Lancashire County Council's 'Lose the Car, Lose the Spare Tyre' campaign aims to encourage people to improve their lifestyle and health through walking, cycling and using public transport as an alternative to the car.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council is being invited to top up the £25,000 Lancashire County Council has put in to the project, which will enable people living within the unitary borough to take part in the scheme.

Posters advertising the campaign will be sent out next month to libraries, GPs surgeries and workplaces in a bid to entice people into the project as people prepare to make their New Year's Resolutions.

People who sign up to the project will be sent a pack including a travel diary and a book on how to be healthy.

Public 'weigh-ins' will be held in shopping centres across the area.

The travel awareness project starts on February 4 when people will fill out their weight and how they have travelled each day.

It ends on Sunday, March 31 when people must send their travel diaries in and their end weight. County Council bosses will decide winners for the project.

Sponsors who have donated prizes included gyms and cycle shops while big-name retailers are also being approached.

Participants will also be encouraged to get sponsorship for their weight-loss. Any money collected will go to Imperial Cancer Research.

The whole project is being developed with the North West Lancashire Health Promotion Unit, which will provide the health guidance for people taking part.