A free swimming scheme for children will continue for another year as part of a drive to tackle obesity.

Thousands of children aged under 11 in Brighton and Hove have signed up for regular sessions and the numbers are growing.

It is the second year running that Brighton and Hove City Council and NHS Sussex have agreed to meet the cost of the £131,000 a year programme.

There were fears it would be axed after the Government announced it was scrapping funding but health bosses were so pleased with the project they were keen to keep it going.

The cash boost means children will continue to be able to use the city's swimming pools for free until at least March next year.

There are now more than 11,600 signed up to the scheme compared to just under 10,000 two years ago.

Over the last year they enjoyed almost 40,000 free sessions between them.

NHS Sussex health promotion specialist David Brindley said it continued to pay for free swimming because latest figures from the childhood measurement programme show that in Brighton and Hove 8.2% of four to five year olds are obese and 13.3% are overweight.

By the time children are measured again at ages 10 and 11 these figures have risen to 15.2% obese and 13.6% overweight.

Reducing childhood obesity

Mr Brindley said: “The free swimming programme is part of a range of measures we commission aimed at reducing childhood obesity and is relatively good value.

“On current figures it costs approximately £11.50 to register each child and evaluation of the programme has demonstrated good uptake by children from all areas of the city.

“Also, being a seaside city, it's very important that children learn to swim.”

The annual direct cost of obesity to the NHS in Brighton and Hove is estimated to be £78.1 million.

It can lead to a wide range of serious medical problems including heart disease, high blood pressure, strokes, cancer and diabetes.

Other people end up needing hip and knee replacements as their bodies struggle to hold their weight as they get older.

It is the second biggest preventable cause of death in the country, behind smoking.

Has your child taken advantage of the free swimming? Tell us what you think about the scheme by writing to our letters page, emailing letters@theragus.co.uk.

THE ARGUS SAYS

Tackling obesity is a top priority for health bosses as the number of dangerously overweight people continues to rise.

The key is to focus on children and encourage them to eat well and exercise properly in order to keep to a healthy weight.

So news that the free swimming scheme is to continue for at least another year is welcome and good news for thousands of children across the city.

Research has shown it tends to be people in more deprived areas that have an unhealthy diet and take less regular exercise, so having something available that comes at no extra cost is an added incentive.

The fact that children who keep to a healthy weight tend to grow up into adults who also stay a healthy weight means they will have less reason to need treatment for various health problems, saving the NHS vital cash.

A win-win situation all round.