WARRINGTON Borough Council is launching an eco-friendly loyalty card scheme to encourage leisure centre users to leave their cars at home.

The Healthy Green Reward Scheme will reward fitness enthusiasts with discounts in leisure centres if they travel to them by means other than a car, such as cycling or walking.

The initiative will be launched during National Bike Week, June 16-24, at five facilities: Birchwood Leisure and Tennis, Broomfields, Great Sankey, Fordton and Woolston.

This will coincide with the introduction of plastic and cardboard recycling at the centres.

Clr Roy Smith, Warrington Borough Council's executive member for community services, said: "It is an excellent idea to reward those people who make the effort to go green by leaving their cars at home and taking some exercise.

"This new scheme is an ideal way to combine the council's ongoing drive to encourage healthy living and develop environmental awareness."

Environmentally conscious leisure centre users will be given a membership card to acquire credit and loyalty points, which will give them the benefits.

The scheme is part of the council's policy to improve environmental practices at its leisure centres.