Nearly £50,000 will be invested in the installation of fitness trails within the grounds of two hospitals in Wales.

Outdoor schemes are to be piloted at Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny, South Wales and Ysbyty Alltwen in Tremadog, Gwynedd, to promote healthy lifestyles to all National Health Service (NHS) staff. The planned trails, which will comprise five or six stations of equipment, will form part of the Welsh Assembly Government's new Creating an Active Wales project to get more people physically active.

Welsh health minister Edwina Hart said: "Earlier this month, the Welsh Assembly Government launched a plan to encourage people to become more physically active - Creating an Active Wales. One of the aims of the plan is to develop a physical environment that makes it easier for people to choose to be more physically active. "These fitness trails will provide NHS staff with the opportunity to improve and maintain their own health while setting a good example for patients and visitors."

David Jenkins, chair of Aneurin Bevan Health Board - responsible for Nevill Hall Hospital, added: "It can be very difficult for many of our staff working irregular shift patterns to make time to exercise so I'm certain having accessible equipment freely available on site will be a huge help to them. "The fitness trails will also give a positive message to patients and visitors about the health benefits of taking exercise."