FOUR out of five North-East women are endangering their health by failing to take enough exercise, according to a new survey.

A national poll, commissioned by Cancer Research UK and Tesco, found that most women in Britain exercise less than three times a week for 30 minutes or more and one in four women never do any exercise at all.

The survey, which is being used to launch the tenth anniversary of Race for Life, the charity's women-only 5km fundraising event, revealed that only one in five women meet the Government recommendation of exercising five times a week or more for 30 minutes.

In the North-East, of the 397 women questioned, only 18 per cent are reaching this target.

Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information for Cancer Research UK, says: "These statistics are deeply concerning, as regular exercise is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle."

The poll provides interesting regional insights into why women exercise.

In the region, women said that they were most likely to exercise to keep fit and healthy, but they were also more concerned about losing weight than women elsewhere in Britain with one in six saying this was the main benefit of exercising.

* To enter Race for Life call the hotline on 08705 134 314 or log on to www.raceforlife.org