The UK government has announced plans to promote the sale of fruit and vegetables in deprived regions in a bid to tackle soaring obesity levels that are costing the country thousands of euros.

The country’s Department of Health is to provide funds to neighbourhood convenience stores in England to be used to purchase new chiller cabinets and shelving for fresh produce.

In a statement, the department said some €252,560 (£200,000) would be allocated to a pilot scheme in the north east of England before the project was rolled-out across the rest of the country.

It follows a successful scheme in Scotland, which is reported to have increased fruit and vegetable sales by as much as 500 per cent in convenience stores over the past four years.