An MP has taken part in funded exercise classes.

Caroline Dinenage, MP for Gosport, participated in tai chi and keep fit sessions on Friday, October 13.

Both sessions were funded by Sport England grants. The tai chi session was held by Love Outdoors in the Willow Garden behind Forton Medical Centre.

The social enterprise received £60,587 from Energise Me, a partner of Sport England, through the Hampshire Active Health Programme.

The group aims to create activities with local communities to improve the use of parks and open spaces. The keep fit class was organised by the Gosport and Fareham Multiple Sclerosis Society in Stubbington.

The group received a £15,000 grant from Sport England to help people with multiple sclerosis participate in exercise. The class, held at Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church, included seated and standing exercises.

Speaking after the morning of exercise, Caroline said: "The benefits of keeping active are well-documented but for some people opportunities seem invisible or non-existent. The positive physical and mental health effects of getting out there and participating in exercise mean I am keen for everyone in Gosport, Lee on the Solent, Stubbington and Hill Head to feel it is within grasp.

"Today’s sessions with Love Outdoors and the Gosport and Fareham MS Society have demonstrated those benefits perfectly – I feel so much better for having done it!

"No matter who you are, or where you live, physical activity is within reach thanks to organisations like Sport England and Energise Me. I urge everyone in the Gosport Constituency to take a look at how to get involved in an activity like this."

Julie Amies, CEO of Energise Me, said: "Not everyone has the support they need to help them get started and take up an activity that will help improve their health and wellbeing. That’s what people told Energise Me when they were asked what stops them being active.

"And that’s why Energise Me and Hampshire Public Health were excited to work with Love Outdoors who are supporting people in Gosport ‘to find their thing’. Working with Seekers Create, these two voluntary organisations are creating opportunities for people to come together and be active in the outdoors in Gosport, the place they live."