PEOPLE in Sunderland and York need to get fitter, according to a survey that has ranked the cities in the bottom-half of a league table for fitness and healthy lifestyles.

The cities have been branded two of Britain's least fittest cities by private medical insurer PruHealth.

Sunderland was fourth worst, with York in seventh.

Residents of York fared badly for consumption of cigarettes and alcohol, the research found.

Researchers used a combination of techniques to arrive at their conclusions, including surveys, online research and Government statistics.

Swansea, Bristol and Bolton were the fittest cities in Britain.

Selby and York Primary Care Trust's director of public health, Rachel Johns, said: "These figures are interesting, but do not reflect our own data on health in the York area.

"This report focuses on smoking and alcohol consumption, both of which are current priorities for the PCT.

"Across North Yorkshire, from April 2004 to June 2005, over 1,200 people successfully quit smoking at four weeks with the help of the North Yorkshire Stop Smoking Service."

A spokesperson for Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust said: "It is already recognised that many people in Sunderland have poor health compared to the national picture.

"We recognise that change for the better depends on the long-term and combined efforts of health services, the local authority and individual themselves."