CHILDREN in Bolton are the most active in the region but there is still a long way to go.

Almost a quarter of children in Bolton are active for at least an hour every day say figures compiled by Sport England.

However, almost 31 per cent are active for less than 30 minutes a day and 20.6 per cent fail to exercise for an hour a day.

Executive cabinet member for education, schools, safeguarding and looked after children, Cllr Ann Cunliffe, said: “I am pleased to see that one in four children and young people in Bolton are active for an hour or more every day.

“This is higher than the national average and places us top in Greater Manchester."

In October figures released by NHS Digital revealed that 4.4 per cent of children in Bolton are classed as severely obese and 15.4 per cent were classed as overweight.

Cllr Cunliffe acknowledged: “Of course, these figures also mean that far too many of our young people are not yet getting the recommended amount of daily exercise.

“We will continue to promote active and health lifestyles through schools and through events such as Sport in the Square and Ironkids.”

The Chief Medical Officer for England's guideline is that children should be active for at least an hour everyday.

The Active Lives Children and Young People Survey by Sport England shows that only 63,600 children in Greater Manchester (16.5 per cent) are meeting the recommended levels of exercise.

The national average is 17.5 per cent.

Along with Bolton, Bury, Salford and Wigan were also above the national average for children being active for at least an hour a day, every day.

The survey also found national inequalities in physical activity levels; a gender gap with 22.2 per cent of boys compared to 15.4 per cent of girls more likely to be active; children from more affluent families are more active; those with a disability are slightly less active than those without; girls from Asian and Black backgrounds are more likely to be less active.

Greater Manchester charity Greater Sport, which promotes exercise in the region, looked at the figures.

The survey also found that children across Greater Manchester were more active in school than out of school. In Bolton 30.6 per cent were active for at least half and hour at school each day, compared to 28.5 per cent when at home. However, again both of these figures outstrip the national average.

The CEO Sara Tomkins said: "Research shows that physical activity and fitness track into adulthood, so it is essential our children are active and this survey shows we are not doing enough in Greater Manchester both in and out of school to ensure our children remain happy and healthy.

"We therefore welcome today’s survey as it provides useful insight on our children and the findings will shape our work in engaging Greater Manchester’s young people, parents, schools, teachers and partners as we aim to get 2 million people moving across Greater Manchester.”