Get Active co-ordinator Katie Melia warned that some people still show too much apathy towards sport when, in fact, regular exercise can be slotted seamlessly into everyone's lives.

She commented: "Time and apathy are the biggest barriers to people not doing their 30 minutes' exercise five times a week, as well as child care problems.

But I say do exercise with your family, do it at the weekends."

Last year, Northamptonshire Sport revealed that only 21 per cent of the 500,000 adults in the county were doing their recommended 30 minutes of physical activity five times a week.

About 18 months ago, the organisation used Government funding to employ two Get Active co-ordinators to promote and encourage regular exercise among Northamptonshire people.

The target is that, by 2010, another 20,000 people should be regularly achieving their recommended 30 minutes five times a week.

And, with the 'credit crunch' threatening people's spending on perceived luxuries like gym membership, it has become even more important for the team to prove to locals that regular exercise can be cheap and easily fitted in to a working day.

Miss Melia said: "I think cost is a perceived barrier or an excuse.

We are promoting the fact that it doesn't cost anything to do some exercise. People can do brisk walking and cycling, if you have a bike.

"There is also jogging and swimming, even using an exercise video at home would help."

One scheme which Miss Melia is hoping will be rolled out to other county businesses is the Get Active workplace campaign.

For the last few months, Get Active has been working with Northamptonshire County Council employees to encourage them to voluntarily give up 30 minutes of their lunchtimes to take part in exercise, whether it be a brisk walk or salsa dancing session.

Miss Melia said: "We do the workplace walks on a Tuesday and Thursday.

There is a group of us and five different routes and we take the staff on one of these routes each time. Then they don't have to worry about doing anything after work as they have done it already.

"There is a core group of 25 to 30 people and it is something that has worked very well."

Health experts say that walking 10,000 steps a day is an ideal target for most people, but the average adult walks between 3,000 and 4,000 steps each day.

Get Active also supports a timetable of led walks, organised by Northampton Borough Council, which take place every day from venues including the Racecourse and Abington Park.

As well as these activities, the scheme runs regular 'Get Back Into...' courses, which are classes which encourage people to return to sports such as tennis and netball.

Miss Melia said: "A lot of the time people might have played something like tennis at school and haven't played for years, so can't remember how to play or what the rules are."

Get Active wants people to think about how to incorporate exercise into their ordinary, everyday lives.

Miss Melia said: "If you get the bus, get off a stop early and if you are using a car, park in the spot furthest away.

It is about getting into a routine. Even keeping an exercise diary could help."

To find out more log onto www.northamptonshiresport.org