Games consoles have been fitted to workout equipment at a south Wales gym to encourage youngsters to do more exercise.

Twelve Playstation 2 consoles have been installed onto exercise bikes in the fitness centre at Pencoed swimming pool, near Bridgend. Gym staff approached the Sony UK Technology Centre in Pencoed, which donated the consoles to the project.

Paul Morgan, a gym co-ordinator at the council-run leisure centre, said: “We were looking at ways we could entice more young people to take up exercise because of the rise in childhood obesity. A lot of children go home from school and start playing on their games consoles and don’t do any exercise. We thought that if they could do that at our facility, maybe they would come.”

Gym staff liaised with local schools to set up a six-week trial, selecting 16 youngsters who would benefit from more exercise. The trial was very successful, and the project will now be extended to nearby Pyle later this year.

The launch of the new initiative comes as the Welsh Assembly Government reviews its 20-year vision, unveiled in 2005, of how it intends to improve the fitness of people living in Wales.

The assembly is expected to announce details shortly of a further £11.8m investment in physical activity, including the Active Lifestyles Innovation Fund, which will be aimed at getting more adults to take up fitness activities.