HUNDREDS of residents have been lacing up their trainers and heading to Bicester’s blue line health routes for their daily exercise during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Three routes painted onto pavements in Langford, Bicester West and North East Bicester, have seen a surge in use since the start of lockdown.

In Langford, pedestrian counters indicate that almost 500 people walked the line each day over the Easter period, up 104 per cent on the previous year.

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The data collected from Bure Park, part of the Bicester West route, showed almost 900 daily users over Easter, up from around 670 people during the same holiday period in 2019.

With the restrictions on exercise now eased, allowing people to go out more than once, the use of the 5k trails is expected to further increase.

Councillor Andrew McHugh, Cherwell’s lead member for health and wellbeing said: “Being active has never been more important and Healthy Bicester’s blue line health routes offer residents a free solution to fitness during lockdown.

“With gyms and leisure centres looking to remain closed for the next few weeks, the 5k circuits are a hugely valuable asset to the people of Bicester."

The lines have been refreshed with the same paint used for road markings at NHS Nightingale Hospital in London.