Ukactive has urged the incoming Conservative government to invest heavily in physical activity – in order to improve the nation’s health.

In an open letter, ukactive CEO Huw Edwards called on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to correct the "lack of attention" from previous governments towards exercise and to use physical activity to tackle health issues.

"We note the commitment from the Prime Minister during the campaign trail to turn his attention to domestic issues once the Brexit stalemate ends," Edwards writes in the letter.

"The lack of attention from previous governments to physical activity has contributed to the current crisis in public health, with physical inactivity now recognised as the fourth greatest cause of disease and disability in the UK – linked to one in every six deaths and costing the economy £20bn annually.

"The new government must put physical activity at the heart of the prevention agenda for our health service, recognising the full potential of the physical activity sector to deliver against this and other urgent societal challenges.

"Now that the election is over, it is time for our sector to come together with one voice and to show the government the evidence and convince them of the power of physical activity."

He also highlighted ukactive's four main policy calls, made ahead of the election in October.

These are to regenerate the high street through physical activity, opening schools as community hubs outside of term-time, improving accessibility to active travel and supporting older adults to access physical activity.