A £1.1M mobile gym based on one used by Ferrari Formula One champion Michael Shumacher has been unveiled in the region.

Dreamt up as a way of helping people exercise more in isolated parts of Wear Valley, in County Durham, it is due to hit the road soon.

The Wellness On Wheels (Wow) mobile gym was unveiled at a ceremony next to the Sage building, on Gateshead Quays yesterday.

It is hoped it will encourage people to take more exercise in an area where car ownership is low and many people live miles from the nearest leisure centre.

The concept for the mobile gym in a trailer was developed by Italian firm Technogym to help Ferrari drivers, including Michael Schumacher, to keep fit while travelling around the international motor racing circuit.

Wear Valley District Council has used Technogym fitness and exercise equipment in its leisure centres for years, but when officials heard about the Ferrari mobile gym, they came up with the idea of producing a version.

Thanks to a grant from Sport England, the idea became a reality. Colin Carter, Technogym's North-East sales manager, said: "It is unique in the world. It has never been done before."

Fitness staff who will run the gym will monitor people electronically as they work- out.

The significance of yesterday's launch was marked by the presence of the Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England, Dr Fiona Adshead, who said: "I am sure it will inspire a lot of people to get active and improve their health."

Sir Kenneth Calman, a former Government chief medical officer and now vice-chancellor of Durham University, which will carry out an evaluation of the project, was also impressed.

He said: "It is a little like the Tardis in here.

"This is providing facilities at a local level to people who perhaps would not go to a gym."

Olympic athlete Alison Curbishley, representing Sport England, said she was overwhelmed at the gym's facilities and said she hoped it would encourage people to take the first steps to fitness.

The articulated trailer has an ingenious design that allows it to almost double in size. Partners in the Wow scheme include Sport England, Wear Valley District Council, Durham Dales Primary Care Trust and Technogym.

Wear Valley District Council spokesman Max Colby said the mobile gym would become part of a range of health-promotion activities under the banner of A Chance To Live, a partnership with The Northern Echo, which includes this summer's Great North Walk, in Wolsingham.