Tendring District Council said it would be examining the results and using them to help shape future policy. Angela Littlewood, director of Sportessex, which is funded by Sport England, said: “These are mixed results for Essex, but provide us and our partners with a clear focus for the immediate future.

Tendring District Council said it would be examining the results and using them to help shape future policy.

Angela Littlewood, director of Sportessex, which is funded by Sport England, said: “These are mixed results for Essex, but provide us and our partners with a clear focus for the immediate future.

“We take the health and welfare of the people of Essex very seriously and we will aim to improve the quality of life for people living and working in Essex through sport.”

Lee Underhill runs Fast Track Fitness, which operates in the Colchester area, and said the benefits of exercise were almost endless.

“If you do not exercise, you are cutting your life short to be honest, especially if you are eating too much fast food but thankfully people are becoming more aware about their diets,” he said.

“Eating rubbish food and not exercising is a dangerous combination - there are so many benefits that people will feel better from it almost straightaway and you only get one pop at life, so make the most of it.”

Nigel Brown, Tendring District Council's communications manager, said the council was pleased that Sport England had undertaken the research.

He said: “Now that we have the information and results we need to analyse them properly and see what it means for us. We will use it to help put together our plans for the future.”

Among the plans for Tendring is the new lifestyles project at Clacton Leisure Centre, costing about £2million, which is expected to be open next year.

Terry Allen, leader of Tendring District Council, said of the survey: “It has highlighted that our district has the lowest number of people regularly taking part in sport and recreation across the East of England.

“The lifestyles scheme - which will change the face of health and fitness in Tendring - is aimed at getting residents out of the armchair and involved in a whole range of leisure activities.”

james.hore@eadt.co.uk

Local Authority Percentage of people regularly exercising

(three days a week for 30 minutes)

Braintree 20.9%

Chelmsford 20.9%

Colchester 22.9%

Maldon 21.0%

Tendring 16.2%

Uttlesford 23.1%