A national network of active school co-ordinators is being developed by the Scottish Executive in a bid to encourage physical activity among children.

The government drive will see more than 600 people recruited to find new ways of getting children to take part in regular activity, including sport, play and walking to school.

Part of the government’s healthy living campaign, which was launched by the First Minister in January 2003, the network will be funded by the £24m set aside in the 2003 Scottish budget to develop an active schools strategy.

“We need to act now or we face obesity problems on a par with the United States,” said First Minister, Jack McConnell.

“The health of our nation depends on us all taking individual responsibility for ourselves and each other. I want everyone in Scotland to encourage children to get off the couch and get moving.”