PARENTS are being urged to pick up The Daily Mile mantra and get active themselves as part of national Walk to School Week.

More than 9,000 children across the borough are already enjoying their Daily Mile at school.

Their parents are being encouraged to follow their lead with a daily trip to and from school.

The latest school to sign up to The Daily Mile is Rowan Tree Primary School in Atherton.

It has hosted the first inclusive Daily Mile specially adapted for children with learning difficulties.

Parents were invited along to take part with their children by tackling a fun assortment of physical and sensory challenges before walking or running the mile together.

Jane Udegbue joined her son Lorenzo on the fun-packed afternoon in which he particularly enjoyed the hammer throwing.

Jane said: “We had a lot of fun and Lorenzo really enjoyed it.

"The Daily Mile is a really good thing for us to get involved with.”

The Daily Mile was set up in 2012 by Elaine Wyllie at her school in Scotland to improve the fitness levels of pupils there.

It has since been embraced by schools across the UK and there are now more than 50 Daily Mile routes in the Wigan borough.

Professor Kate Ardern, director for public health at Wigan Council, said: “It is fantastic to see that parents are getting involved in The Daily Mile and brilliant that schools like Rowan Tree Primary School are finding ways to engage pupils and making it fully accessible to all.

"We are hearing from teachers and parents about the positive impact The Daily Mile is having on pupils, not only improving their physical health but also their mental health and engagement in the classroom."

To find out more about The Daily Mile visit thedailymile.co.uk.

For information on setting up a Daily Mile at a school contact Inspiring Health Lifestyles' Hazel Whittle on 01942 404969 or via h.whittle@wlct.org.