Image: The report advocates an increase in children using out-of-school sports clubs

Primary school children across the UK are in 'urgent need' of increasing their physical activity levels in order to prevent serious health problems in later life, according to new research.

The joint study by the Universities of Strathclyde and Newcastle found that many children under the age of 10 are only physically active for around 20 minutes a day. It also suggests that young girls exercise much less than boys.

Published in the PLoS ONE online journal, the study was based on research which monitored 508 children aged between eight and 10-years-old.

Each child was given a pedometer to measure physical activity levels over week-long period. The body mass index (BMI) of each child was also recorded. In most cases, exercise levels were well short of the recommended 60 minutes a day.

The report also found a direct link between a lack of physical activity and childhood obesity. It stated: "Increased BMI was associated with greater percentage of time spent in sedentary behaviour and with reduced total physical activity.

"Children who spent more time in out-of-school sports clubs had lower percentages of time spent in sedentary behaviour."