Parents of children deemed unfit are to be sent warning letters from schools.

Secondary pupils will be forced to take an annual fitness test.

If they fail, their parents will be told they are at risk of heart disease, brittle bones and obesity. The scheme was outlined yesterday by the Government’s chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson. 

He warned that lack of exercise is placing a greater burden on the economy than smoking – costing £8.3billion a year compared with £5.2billion. But the initiative was criticised by campaigners as yet another example of Labour’s ‘nanny state’ interference in family life.

Read more on the Daily Mail website.