HEALTH bosses have pledged a full investigation into the problems of child obesity in Darlington.

Borough councillors were asked to look into the issue, which has become a growing concern across the country.

They found that, although statistics were not yet available on the number of children who are obese in the town, the national figure was 9.2 per cent.

That is likely to be much higher in Darlington, as the area has a greater than average percentage of adults who are overweight - and there is a close link between parental and child obesity.

The group, formed by the social affairs and health scrutiny committee, found that many local schools followed the Government's recommendation of two hours of high-quality PE and sport a week for five to 16-year-olds.

The council is now hoping that more schools will join its "walking train" scheme, where parents and children form chains to get to and from school on foot.

It also wants the on-going Town on the Move initiative to provide more exercise opportunities.

The group of councillors praised the SureStart nursery scheme for promoting healthy eating and lifestyles among young families.

In Darlington, SureStart also encourages young children to exercise and anyone joining in one of the group sessions can have a piece of fruit and water or milk.

Councillors asked for the SureStart practice to be extended across the borough and for more attention to be paid to food provision in schools, both at meal times and break-times.

The group has now called for a review of child obesity in Darlington to be carried out by the full social affairs and health scrutiny committee and the lifelong scrutiny committee.

That study would include investigating why drinking water is not available in all schools, the use of vending machines in schools and their contents and the possibility of free swimming lessons for children from poor families.

The group's report says: "The group is aware that obesity in children is a national issue and the Government has developed several initiatives to address this problem."

Recommendations from the investigation would be presented to the full council.