A survey by Diabetes UK shows more than seven per cent of adults in Wokingham swim once a week while adults in Bracknell Forest flounder in the slow lane coming close to bottom in the UK.

Only four per cent of adults in Bracknell visit a pool during the week, placing the town fourth from bottom in the national survey. Jill Steaton, the south east regional manager for Diabetes UK said she wants the results to 'challenge everyone’ to take up swimming. She said: “It’s fantastic that so many people in Wokingham are already swimming, but this New Year we’d like to see more people diving into the pool to make a splash for Diabetes UK.

“Swimming is a great way to keep physically active, which is really important for preventing Type 2 diabetes.

“And if you already have diabetes then you can help manage your condition through getting plenty of exercise and eating healthily.

“For other areas lower down the table this doesn’t have to be bad news. We want these results to challenge everyone in the area to make a splash in their local pool and give swimming a go.” The league table, based on data from Sport England, placed Wokingham at 110 and Bracknell at 230, out of 233 local authorities across the country included.

Diabetes UK published the league table to go alongside the launch of its Swim 22 challenge where participants are sponsored to swim 22 miles – the same distance across the English Channel – at their local pool over three months.

The challenge will run between Sunday, February 22, and Friday, May 22, 2015 and aims to encourage more people to take up swimming as well as raise money for the charity.

To get involved visit www.diabetes.org.uk/swim22