Free fitness scheme for under-fives in Liverpool

The Futures scheme will give young children access to activities including play, dance and basic ball exercises in 13 fitness centres across the city.

The council is also promoting a range of 30 activities including basketball, boxing and free running to five- to 16-year-olds who already have free access to the centres. Thirteen youth and community coaches have been appointed to run the programme.

As well as the activities the children have free access to swimming pools, astro-turf pitches, tennis, squash and badminton courts.

The scheme is supported by Liverpool Active City, Extended Schools, Children Centres, Youth Service, Liverpool John Moores University and the Liverpool primary care trust, and is sponsored by the ferry company, Norfolkline.

Council leader Warren Bradley said: "Nowhere else in the UK is delivering a health and fitness programme on this scale and, in the build up to us hosting the next Olympics, it would be a triumph if we could provide every child in the country free access to their local leisure centre. If Liverpool can do it so can other towns and cities."