Couch Potatoes Rise Up!

Just in case you've missed the hype - and we have - Sunday 19 September is a day for your diary because it's been designated as ITV's first ever National Walking Day on Sunday 19 September.

It's part of ITV's Britain On The Move campaign, which may sound like something to do with shifting tectonic plates, but is actually their government-supported initiative to lure sofa-bound viewers out of their cushy TV-centred existence for a bit of an amble in the countryside or town.

The date's been chosen to coincide with the opening, for the first time, of some previously forbidden areas under the terms of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 and viewer are being encouraged to organise their own regional walking events via the campaign web site. It's also the start of the Ramblers' Association annual week -ong walking festival.

The premise at the centre of the campaign is a government figure suggesting that 30 minutes of brisk walking, or 10,000 steps a day, would have a huge impact on health across the nation with an estimated 6,000 lives a year potentially being saved.

ITV has already given away 250,000 free step-o-meters to viewers reluctant to count their steps manually and the story has already featured on Coronation Street where a couple of leading characters apparently received step-o-meters as part of a story line much to the delight of the Ramblers' Association.

For lots more information plus some undeniably useful information on walks in your area check out the Britain On The Move web site. The Ramblers have their own Britain On The Move pages.

Now if you'll excuse us, we're off to watch telly, just 15 steps away :-)