PATIENTS are being encouraged to take steps towards a healthier lifestyle with a walking initiative.

Step-O-Meters have been presented to a group of patients from GP practices in Derwentside, Durham and Chester-le-Street, in a bid to help them improve their health through walking.

Doctors from 12 practices picked ten of their patients to present with the small electronic device, which measures each step taken and how many miles the walker has covered.

The pilot project was launched this week and should help people to achieve the recommended 30 minutes of exercise needed at least five times a week.

The project will run for a 12-week trial and is part of a national initiative which is being promoted by the Primary Care Trusts and Countryside Agency.

Liz Moran, health promotion specialist for both Derwentside and Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trusts, said: "It is hoped that the use of the Step-O-Meter will enable patients to establish a baseline of their current physical activity levels and to set a personal target for increasing this over the life of the project and to know when they have reached it.

"But no matter what a person's score is, the most important thing is for them to aim for small, regular increases in their number of steps."