PEOPLE are being encouraged to build walking into their day, and download the Active 10 app to support them.

Research shows that just 10 minutes a day of brisk walking counts as a form of intense physical activity and can make a huge difference to health.

Patricia Stallard, Hampshire County Council’s executive member for public health, said: “Summer is the perfect time of year to spend a little more time outside and be more active, but the busy nature of modern life means that it is often difficult to fit physical activity into our days.

“The Active 10 app has been designed to help you start briskly walking for 10 minutes and build this into your day.”

Brisk walking is simply walking at a pace that gets your heart pumping faster and makes you feel slightly out of breath. It can make you feel better, more energetic, and improve your mood. It can help to lower the risk of serious illnesses such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes, as well as reducing bone and muscle loss associated with ageing which helps to reduce falling in later life. It also improves mental wellbeing and reduces anxiety.

The app can be downloaded at nhs.uk/oneyou/active10/home.

In Hampshire, there are also a number of free, short walks available every week as part of Walking for Health. These are led by specially trained volunteers.

For more details about the scheme, visit walkingforhealth.org.uk.