PEOPLE of all ages have been urged to stay active and socialise by taking part in a new health walk in Jericho.

The weekly walks, typically between one and three miles long, were launched as part of Oxford Green week last month in a bid to keep the community fit and healthy.

Starting at Jericho Health Centre the walks have increased in popularity in recent weeks.

Organisers hoped GPs at the health centre would recommend the walks to patients needing more physical activity.

Makena Lohr, worker for the charity the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, which co-ordinates the walks, said: “There’s lots of evidence to suggest that active people are healthier and live longer, these walks help keep people fit and contribute to preventing health issues.”

She added: “On the walks we take Green Health routes and help support access to green spaces.”

Oxford City Council’s sport and physical activity activator, Stephanie Smith, will lead the walks until trained volunteers take over once the programme has run for 12 weeks.

Local resident Richard Hiller, who has attended all the walks so far, said: “It’s a brilliant, inclusive group to be a part of and it helps that Steph is a great leader.

“I would highly recommend to all age groups but particularly those who are retired.

“After retiring it’s common to become more isolated but being part of a group like this helps to get you out and with good company.”

Organisers are keen to see a wider group of people attending the walks, and in particular have called for new mums to join in with their babies.

The city council-funded walks meet at the Jericho Health Centre, every Thursday at 1.30pm.

Walks are typically between 30 minutes and an hour and aim to suit all abilities.

City councillor for Jericho, Susanna Pressel, said: “All the doctors and TV experts are telling us that we should walk more, and this is a really good way of doing so – and it’s free.

“We had a brilliant time when I went, and I certainly felt better for it.”

It is part of the GO Active programme, which also provides walks in other parts of the city, including Donnington, Marston, Blackbird Leys and Headington.

For more information on the scheme go to getoxfordshireactive.org