EVENTS like school games ceremonies and junior park runs are helping get Bradford's young people exercising on a more regular basis.

Active Bradford was set up to bring together different healthy living initiatives across the district in response to Bradford's high obesity figures.

It is estimated that 363 deaths would be preventable each year if everyone in Bradford were to become more active. And the health cost of physical inactivity relating to cancer, diabetes, coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease to the Bradford District is estimated to be £9.94m per year.

Later today Bradford Council's Children's Services Scrutiny Committee will hear an update on Active Bradford's work in the past year.

It reveals that Sport England Active Lives research published relating to 2017 suggests Bradford has lower levels of inactivity than most other districts across West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire. It adds: "This is a much improved picture from previous results and is good news. Whilst we should be cautious in interpreting the specific results due to the sample size, it does appear that over the last year there are less people that are inactive."

Much of the work is done in the district's schools with events including an "extensive schools competition programme" that culminated in over 1,500 children attending the Bradford School Games event, the promotion of a "Daily Mile" in schools where each pupil runs for 15 minutes a day. So far 29 primary schools have signed up. And a Bikeability programme has been delivered to over 2,200 children improving their skills and safety awareness.

The committee meets at 6pm in City Hall.