Sport England has awarded £500,000 to Hertfordshire to boost public health.

The money will go towards the ‘Healthy and Active in Herts’ programme, in which trained specialists go into GP surgeries to support people with health issues.

Hertfordshire County Council has pledged a further £200,000 for the programme, along with £300,000 from Herts Valleys and East & North Herts Clinical Commissioning Group.

Councillor Teresa Heritage, cabinet member for public health, localism and libraries, said: “Increasing physical activity levels across the county is a clear priority for Hertfordshire’s Lifestyle and Legacy Partnership, who were instrumental in the development of the concept for this bid.

"We are really pleased to be one of the few areas in the country to be awarded this funding by Sport England.”