People in Weymouth swim more regularly than almost anywhere else in England, according to a new league table published today by Diabetes UK.

According to the league table, based on Sport England data, 10.4 per cent of adults in Weymouth say they swim once a week.

This puts them at number four in the league table for the places with the most regular swimmers, behind South Lakeland (11.5 per cent), Mid Sussex (11 per cent) and Richmond upon Thames (10.7 per cent).

Cheltenham (10.4 per cent), North Kesteven (9.89 per cent), Crawley (9.72 per cent), West Oxfordshire (9.7 per cent), Islington (9.69 per cent) and Charnwood (9.65 per cent) have also made it into the top ten.

Surprisingly, Channel swim start point Dover came in last place in the league table, at 221st.

Diabetes UK has published the league table to launch its Swim 22 challenge. This is Diabetes UK’s channel swim pool challenge where participants swim 22 miles (the distance across the English Channel) at their local pool. The challenge will take place between 22 February and 22 May 2014 and Diabetes UK hopes it will encourage more people to take up swimming as well as raise funds.

Paul Amadi, Director of Fundraising for Diabetes UK, said: “Swimming is a great way to keep physically active, which is really important for preventing Type 2 diabetes and or helping to manage diabetes if you already have it. “Clearly, people in Weymouth are already taking this message to heart and it is great to see that so many of them are swimming already. Whether this is because they have beautiful swimming locations such as the Jurassic Coast on their doorstep or if they are just doing it at their local pool like the rest of us, swimming is a great way of getting your regular physical activity. And because many people find it so enjoyable, it is something they may be more likely to stick to in the long run.

“This is why Swim 22 is such a great way to support Diabetes UK. As well as raising money to help us continue with our vital work in supporting people with diabetes and those at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, Swim22 can also be the spur you need to take swimming up and to challenge yourself to get fitter. Also, because you can do the 22 miles over three months, you can gradually build up your fitness and hopefully make swimming regularly a habit you end up sticking to.”

To sign up to Swim22 visit www.diabetes.org.uk/swim22 or call the National Events Team on 0345 123 2399