A SWINDON MP backed charity plans to get children jogging.

Robert Buckland, MP for South Swindon, supported the Daily Mile scheme.

It sees children challenged to run or jog a mile-long course every day.

Mr Buckland, who has written to schools in his constituency challenging them to get involved, said of the Daily Mile: “It is a profoundly simple but effective concept, which any primary or nursery school can implement completely free of charge and without the need for staff training.

“Its impact can be transformational – improving not only the children’s fitness, but also their concentration levels, mood, behaviour and general wellbeing.

“I would like every child in my constituency to have the opportunity to do a Daily Mile at primary school and I would like to work with local schools to build a Daily Mile Community here in South Swindon.”

The town has one of the region’s highest child obesity rates, with more than a third of 10 and 11-year-olds deemed by government statisticians to be obese or overweight.

Justin Tomlinson, MP for North Swindon, has previously called on ministers to do more to get children active. Nationally, 80 per cent of young people are failing to do the recommended hour of physical exercise each day.

Last month, Mr Tomlinson blasted government’s child obesity strategy, which recommends a ban on fatty food advertisements being shown on children’s TV.

He said: “The government’s priority should be to provide the maximum opportunities for young people to be active, which is why I want to see school sports facilities opening up after school and sports camps during school holidays.”