Allotments plea

Local councils are being urged by MEP Paul Nuttall to allocate more land for allotments.

"There are long waiting lists across the North West for allotment plots yet at the same time there are pieces of unused council owned land that could be turned over to fill this need," he said.

"There is a great yearning in the soul of many people to be in the open air growing their own food and not everyone has large enough gardens to fulfill that need.

"And with the awful current financial climate it is also a great way for folk to provide healthy food at low cost," said Mr Nuttall, UKIP's North West Euro-MP.

"The government, both national and local, is keen to tackle the obesity problem and encourage people to get fit and what better way than gardening?

"Not everyone can afford, or wants to, join a gym but allotments are an inexpensive way of obtaining both exercise and healthy food. They are also an inexpensive resource for the council to provide and would tidy up neglected areas.

"Allotments are no longer the preserve of the traditional flat-cappers and more and more families spend happy hours there introducing their children to skills that will be an invaluable asset for life," said Mr Nuttall.