A THINK-TANK has warned the NHS is suffering its "hardest decade ever."

As our lives become more inactive, we are growing unhealthier and continuing to place a strain on our health service. The focus needs to be on prevention.

An easy solution to our sedentary lifestyle is getting more people walking yet last month’s National Travel Survey results revealed that over one-in-five people hadn’t walked for 20 minutes at all within the last year.

Walking is free, accessible to all and can be easily slotted into everyday life. It is good for our mental health and can prevent chronic illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes.

Most of us say we’d walk more if it was safer, more attractive or more convenient.

We need to make sure it is so that more people start walking and feeling the lifelong physical, social, mental and practical benefits it brings.

Dave Taylor, Regional director North West, Living Streets.