LEADING boxer Paul Truscott is packing extra punch into a new scheme to help encourage local people to get fit and active.

The Middlesbrough-born former Commonwealth featherweight title holder will officially launch Tees Valley Leisure's Passport to Leisure scheme on Monday.

The idea of the scheme, run in partnership with Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council and supported by Sport England, is to encourage people to take up sport and physical activity to help them get fit and active.

Mr Truscott said: "Taking part in sport and keeping fit not only improves your health, but also gives your quality of life a boost, so I hope as many people as possible in the area will take advantage of the Passport to Life and grab a chance to get fit."

People applying for membership are awarded discounts ranging from 10 percent on selected activities to 25 percent, depending on their status.

Ian Donley, deputy managing director from Tees Valley Leisure Valley said: "We did a survey, and people told us that the biggest barrier to participation in physical activity was cost. So we decided to launch the scheme which offers discounts to make our facilities across all five leisure sites available to everyone."

The Passport to Leisure incentive scheme is available at Eston Sports Academy, Redcar Leisure Centre, Loftus Leisure Centre, Saltburn Leisure Centre and Guisborough swimming pool.

For further information visit teesvalleyleisure.co.uk.