THE council has given its full support to a scheme that encourages youngsters to ditch their iPhones and get out into the fresh air.

The Playing Out initiative, which was brought to Swindon earlier this year, allows residents to apply to close a road in their neighbourhood for a limited period so children can play games freely in the street.

The council’s support for the country-wide scheme comes after news that a group of health experts has called for more roads to be closed after a study found it had massive health benefits for children.

The Telegraph on Monday reported that “analysis of the scheme by the University of Bristol found that residents reported a greater sense of a community and happiness and said their areas were more friendly and safer”.

A group of community-spirited residents in Penhill earlier this year tested the scheme and have given it the thumbs up.

Atworth Close was temporarily shut for a few hours in March, when more than 20 children of all ages, along with many adults, made the most of the traffic-free outdoor space.

A Swindon Borough Council spokesman said: “The Playing Out scheme has proved incredibly popular with children and young people in Penhill and we have another session taking place in Toothill on Friday.

“It is free to close a road under the scheme and there are a number of benefits, not least the fact that it encourages children to exercise outdoors in a safe environment.

“It also encourages parents to go outside with their children and socialise with their neighbours, which helps foster a great community spirit. The play is led by the children themselves and parents are on hand to supervise.

“The programme has been organised by our Street Reps in conjunction with support from the Housing Tenant Participation Team so far, but any group of residents can apply to close their street.”

It is thought that only 21 per cent of boys and 16 per cent of girls get the recommended 60 minutes of physical exercise each day, and the scheme looks to address that.

The Bristol University study found that, across the country, children using the initiative spent 70 per cent of the time outside while the roads were closed.

Zoe Jones, from Lower Penhill, speaking after the scheme was tried in Swindon in March, said: “We all had a brilliant time. Children who lived next door to each other but had never properly met, played out together for the first time and made friends.”

Anyone interested in applying for a road closure as part of the Playing Out initiative can email playingout@swindon.gov.uk for an application form.