MORE CASH is needed to keep on a firm footing a popular walking scheme which helps Eastleigh residents stay healthy.

The walks, which are led by qualified walk leaders and last for about an hour, have become a huge hit in helping to keep the borough's residents a healthy breed.

Now they are under threat because of a shortage in resources and limited amounts of cash.

Attendances are increasing every year and currently there is an

average of 83 people a week or 332 per month.

But the council's head of countryside and recreation Phil Lomax says: "The highly popular walking scheme is threatened unless alternative funding is found from September 2004 and beyond."

In a report which councillors will consider on Wednesday at the Social Policy Scrutiny Panel, Lomax said the Healthworks and Healthwalks initiatives were among the most

popular and valuable services prov-ided by the council.

He said: "The service improves the health and well-being of those people in the greatest need of exercise and advice."

But Mr Lomax says: "The service is under pressure with rapidly growing demand and fixed resources."

The Healthwalks team has to work from a cabin outside the Fleming Park Leisure Centre because there is no room in the leisure complex.

Mr Lomax says the long-term amb-ition is to provide the accommodation under the leisure centre roof.

He says: "It will be difficult to plan any future development in the Healthworks and Healthwalks scheme with confidence until funding is assured."

Investment in such health conscious initiatives could cut waiting lists and ease the strain on overcrowded GP surgeries.

Currently GPs refer patients to the Healthworks scheme if they feel they would gain health benefits from a supervised programme of physical activity.

The top three reasons for referral are - weight loss, to increase fitness and to counter depression and stress.

The importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle is becoming more and more acknowledged.

Recent research has indicated that one in six 12-year-olds can now be classed as obese, one in three people will develop diabetes and the United Kingdom has one of the highest levels of heart disease in the word.