A LOCAL authority is one step ahead of its rival after taking the winner's crown in a pedometer challenge.

Chester-le-Street District Council beat Durham City Council in a contest to see whose leisure services staff could take the most steps over four weeks.

The Chester-le-Street team won with a combined step score of 3,093,199, burning off the equivalent of 759 pints of lager or 687 packets of crisps.

The individual prize was scooped by Chester-le-Street sports coach Leanne Kemp, who took more than 70,000 steps during the challenge.

Durham City Council's leisure team took the runners-up prize with a combined score of 2,560,543.

Councillor John Evans, leisure portfolio holder at Chester-le-Street District Council, said: "We are of course delighted to have won the challenge. This is truly what healthy competition is all about.

"Initiatives like this are crucial to achieving healthier lifestyles by changing our daily behaviour."

The challenge was organised as part of the Durham and Chester-le-Street Lifestyle Initiative and has proved to be so successful it is going to be extended to other departments within the two councils from next month.

Deborah Holmes, leisure development manager for Durham City Council, said: "The challenge was a great way of showing how just by being active in our normal, everyday activities, we can achieve a new healthy lifestyle. We are now looking forward to initiating a new bigger challenge involving a wider range of staff from both authorities later in the year."

For information on walking for health contact Sandra Howes on 0191-389 5094.