Mansfield Paralympian Charlotte Henshaw gave her support to the launch of the Mansfield Girls Can! campaign.

The Sports Nottinghamshire-led initiative, which Mansfield District Council is supporting, aims to encourage women and girls to be more physically active.

Charlotte, who was among those at the launch, said: “This is a fantastic initiative and great that it has come to Mansfield.

“I hope it works as well here as it has elsewhere in encouraging women to get active regardless of age, size or ability.

“Sport has certainly brought so much to my life and I hope this campaign inspires more women and girls to take part.”

The Mayor of Mansfield, Kate Allsop, who was also at the launch, said: “This is such an important campaign.

“We have an obesity problem in Mansfield and anything that can help get more people — and especially women and girls — fitter and healthier has to be a good thing.”

Coun Andrew Tristram, portfolio holder for the environment and wellbeing, added: “I hope this campaign helps to spread the message that being active does not necessarily mean putting hours in on a treadmill at the gym. It can simply mean a brisk half hour walk or a bike ride to the shops instead of taking the car.”

Mansfield Girls Can is part of a nationwide Sport England campaign called This Girl Can, which aims to get women and girls moving, regardless of shape, size and ability.

The local campaign is being co-ordinated by Mansfield District Council, Sport Nottinghamshire and Mansfield District Leisure Trust.

Research by Sport England revealed that two million fewer women than men, aged 14 to 40, play sport regularly.

A variety of activities were on offer at the campaign launch, including workouts, netball and pétanque.

For more information see www.mansfield.gov.uk/mansfieldgirlscan or the campaign’s Facebook page @ThisGirlCanMansfield.