IT is very easy to scoff at the idea of employing a Walking Officer, but I'm with Bolton Council all the way on this one.

Walking is actually a very popular pastime already here -- largely because we have spectacular countryside around the West Pennine Moors and the Lake District is just up the motorway.

There is no doubt that better exercise like walking would improve our health and our quality of life -- especially as one fifth of the population is now officially obese.

And if it takes the official appointment of someone to encourage us to walk more, then it's a good investment.