FOOTBALL stars have signed up for a gruelling fitness task - to clock up a million miles of activity in ten weeks.

The Million Miles challenge is a Sport England initiative and part of the Everyday Sport campaign, which aims to get people in the North-East more active.

Over ten weeks, people are being invited to take part in activities. To help reach the target, the people of Darlington have been set the challenge of completing 13,500 miles.

Next Tuesday and Wednesday, anyone who pays to use the Dolphin Centre or Eastbourne Sports Complex's Pulse suites will be asked to take part in the challenge, with every step and mile taken on the treadmills and cross trainers added to the total.

To promote the event, Darlington FC players Adrian Webster and Akpo Sodje visited the Dolphin Centre to try the facilities.

Webster said: "Professional footballers cover hundreds of miles in a season but for most people, keeping healthy is something they have to find time for outside of their jobs.

"The Million Miles challenge is a great way of encouraging people to take that extra step towards personal fitness and will hopefully get the people of Darlington on their feet and thinking about their own health."

Everyone taking part must have had an induction to the gym facilities.

Swimmers will be invited to join in the challenge on Tuesday, September 13, and Wednesday, September 14.

Stroke For Stroke will take place at the Dolphin Centre, with each length completed added to the total.

For details, call (01325) 388406.