Billericay folk are being encouraged to pull on their walking boots and get fit by taking part in a series of health treks.

The town's Mayflower Rotary Club has just published a set of ten walks in and around Billericay.

Members hope locals will be encouraged to begin a regular exercise programme and see the sights of the town at the same time.

Edward Fortune, from the club, said: "The medical evidence is overwhelming. Regular exercise is good for you.

"It will make you feel good and may well prolong your life. It is almost never too late to start and walking is a cheap, cheerful and effective way to get fit."

Each of the walks has been published in mini-guides, thanks to sponsorship from Billericay's Waitrose, and comes complete with a location map. They range from less than one mile to nearly four miles in length to suit all levels of fitness.

Four are pavement walks such as around Lake Meadows, Great Burstead Church and on each side of the High Street.

The other six are footpath walks around places including Norsey Wood, Little Burstead, Stock and Mountnessing.

Each walk has been carefully measured to ensure accurate timing and a calculation of the energy consumed.

Mr Fortune said: "By measuring how long the walks are and how fast somebody completes them, it's possible to work out how fit they are."

The free guides to the walks can be picked up at Waitrose, Classic Mensware, Presence, Picturesque and Sports 'n' Wear in Billericay High Street and also from Main Road Garage in South Green.

The idea of health walks was dreamt up by an Oxfordshire doctor four years ago and is being adopted throughout the country.

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