RESIDENTS in Vale Royal are among the most active in Cheshire - but their counterparts in Middlewich need to pull on their running shoes, according to a national survey by Sport England.

The Active People survey is the largest ever review into sport and active recreations conducted in Europe with telephone surveys of more than 360,000 people. It found that Vale Royal was the third most active borough in the county - but Congleton, which includes Middlewich, only came fifth out of six.

The results have been made available to all 354 local authorities in England for use in the preparation of sports strategies to guide which organisations and activities councils will back financially.

Vale Royal's lead councillor for recreation John Grimshaw said: 'We are the third most active borough in Cheshire after Macclesfield and Chester, so the council's current sports strategy is working.

'We are using the survey's results to underpin our new strategy, currently in the draft stage, and after the Executive Group has agreed it this week we will begin a six-week, borough wide public consultation. I am keen for as many residents as possible to tell us what sporting and leisure opportunities they want their council to support going forward. That way we can work towards being the fittest borough in Cheshire.'

The survey also showed that 48% of Vale Royal residents took part in no regular weekly exercise, something the council wants to change. Cllr Grim-shaw said: 'Women and those on lower incomes are less inclined to take regular exercise. Over the coming months we will be looking at ways we can encourage these residents to increase their level of activity.'

For more details about sporting activities in Vale Royal visit www.valeroyal.gov.uk and for Middlewich go to www.congleton.gov.uk