MEMBERS of an Oxford estate are being encouraged to make 'every step count' as part of a host of sporting activities to get more residents active.

People in Barton have been invited to take part in a free 12-week programme to take up walking as a hobby – and will even be given a free pedometer to track their steps.

The Oxford City Council scheme has been launched this week and is the latest of many new sporting activities in the estate run by the local authority's sport and physical activity team.

Residents are invited to turn up to the Barton Neighbourhood Centre, in Underhill Circus, and wear comfortable footwear for the 'every step counts' sessions

Each week the walks will become more challenging and organisers have said the aim is to walk 'continuously for 60 minutes'.

The new active sessions come after an injection of cash of £30,000 by NHS England to provide projects to encourage healthy living in Barton and Barton Park – an 885-home development being built on land west of the current estate.

City councillor Linda Smith, who holds the brief for leisure and sport, said the council was 'pulling out all the stops' to provide opportunities for Barton residents.

She added: "There are plenty of opportunities for Barton residents to get more active, whatever their current fitness levels – there really is something for everyone.

"This is all part of the city council's vision for Barton, that it should be a great place to live both for existing residents and the new residents of Barton Park who will be joining the community."

The projects to improve health in Oxford's estates come after the city council revealed that in the most deprived areas of the city, men die on average 9.7 years younger than those in the least deprived areas.

Through the 'healthy town' project, the sport and physical activity team is also offering sessions for residents to learn Nordic Walking on a six-week course, which started in February and cost £5 for six sessions.

There are also Beginner Bootcamp sessions, which are suitable for beginners and those with buggies, on Thursdays between 11am and midday.

A boxing exercise class will start later this month.

Barton Community Association administrator Tanya Field said there had been lots of activities going on at the centre every day.

She added: "There are lots of different things going on. That's the great thing about Barton, there is so much going on all the time."

The sport and physical activity team also currently run two Zumba sessions at Barton Neighbourhood Centre, at 6pm on Thursdays and midday on Mondays.

Residents in Rose Hill have also been invited to their own 'every step counts' group each Wednesday at the Rose Hill Community Centre.