Sports trust Halo Leisure has today (1 July 2009) launched an initiative offering 300 young people the opportunity to get fit for free this summer.

Fit For Free offers 12- to 16-year-olds free access to the gyms and youth exercise classes at six Halo Leisure managed leisure centres in Herefordshire, regardless of whether they are already members or not.

Participants must register on the Halo website and free access runs from 20 July - 31 August 2009.

The scheme ties in with the governments' Change 4 Life initiative.

Tamara Bailey, Halo's health and fitness manager, said: "With the support of Halo staff, young people will have the opportunity to reap the benefits of exercise in a safe environment where they will get the very best advice from our qualified gym and group exercise instructors, whether they want to become generally more active, train for a specific goal or perhaps lose some weight.

"Fit For Free is ideal for everyone, whether they have exercised before or not."