AN international health project, which will see Bradford team up with six European cities, will open with an event in City Park next week.

We Love Eating is an EU funded health project to improve health by encourage healthy eating, and will specifically target three of the groups most at risk of obesity and its associated health risks - children, pregnant mothers and the elderly.

Described as an "upbeat approach to healthy eating," the year long pilot project will encourage families to go shopping, prepare meals and sit and eat together, as well as trying to raise the importance of drinking water and taking part in regular exercise.

In addition to Bradford, which is the only UK city involved, the pilot is being trialled in Banska Bystrica in Slovakia, Cluj Napoca in Romania, Deventer in the Netherlands, Granollers in Spain, Poznan in Poland and Roncq in France.

The project will be run by a group including representatives of several different health and wellbeing organisations, including Shipley-based healthy living project HALE, Born in Bradford, the Bradford Older People's Alliance, Keighley and Ilkley Voluntary Action, Forster Community College and the Bradford MInistry of Food.

The city was chosen because of its high levels of obesity and its ethnic mix.

On September 17 there will be an opening event at Forsters Bistro in Centenary Square, where local organisations can attend to find out how they can get involved.

The public launch takes place the following day at City Park and Oastler Market, where there will be activities, healthy food and information for the public.

Over the course of the 12-month programme there will be inter-generational cooking lessons and sessions to encourage pregnant women and new mums to eat healthy.

If successful, the project will be rolled out across Europe.

Frances Holling, of HALE, said: "In City Park there will be free food, exercise classes, health MOTs and information about healthy living on the big screen. In the Oastler Market there will be some exciting events, and people will have the chance to take part in some great activities."

The CIty Park launch event on September 18 runs from 12.30pm to 3.30pm.