WALKING football which scored a public relations victory when it was showcased on a bank's TV advertisement has now taken off in Devizes.

Sessions are being held on Sunday evenings between 6pm and 7pm and are proving popular.

One of the most dedicated players is Tony Martin, 67, from Devizes who took up the sport about a year ago and has seen massive benefits to his fitness and weight.

Until now he has had to travel to other parts of the county to play the game, which has the same rules as ordinary football except no-one is allowed to run.

He has played at Calne, Corsham, Chippenham and Swindon sometimes as often as five times a week. Fellow walking football fan Tony Norton said: "He sometimes has played as often as five times per week and clocked up to 200 miles some weeks so to have a session on his doorstep is not only a relief but also a reward for all his enthusiasm and desire to play for the last 12 months."

Mr Martin, who was a keen footballer in his younger years, said he had become obsessed again with the game. He said: "It's fantastic and it does a huge amount for my fitness and helped me lose weight."

He was persuaded to get involved after his wife Terry and son Matthew, a youth football coach, saw the sport advertised on TV and suggested it to him.

Mrs Martin said: "I has given him a great new pastime and introduced him to many Wiltshire people with similar backgrounds and interests as himself."

Mr Norton, who helps organise the Devizes sessions, set up a Facebook page called Wiltshire Walking Football, and believes Mr Martin is a typical player.

He said: "Most of them haven’t played football for 20 to 30 years apart from a kick around in the garden with children and grandchildren but their passion for the game has never dwindled, now they are playing their beloved game again with like minded people at a slower pace.

"Tony Martin is a valuable participant in Wiltshire not only in his playing but he is the first person to take flyers etc and hand them out around the county, put them up in pubs, clubs and doctors surgeries etc, if you have ever seen a poster on your travels there is a good chance its down to Tony."

He said the group now has around 180 players registered with Wiltshire Walking Football, an average age of 61 and the oldest player so far being a young 78.

Mr Norton said: The Devizes sessions take place at the leisure centre on Sunday evenings at 6pm on the outdoor astro turf. Everything is provided by the Wiltshire County FA including bibs and balls. All that is necessary is for people aged over 50 to join the sport is to turn up, pay £2 a session and start to play.

"If like Tony it becomes apparent that one session a week isn’t enough there are 11 sessions around the county on different days , some during the day and others in the evening , indoor and outdoor , with everyone welcome to attend any or as many sessions as they wish."

Chloe Buller football Ddevelopment officer for the Wiltshire Football Association said: "Having done similar lines of recreational football at Devizes leisure centre, it is great to be able to expand this offer to those who are aged 50+."

Information about all the sessions can be found on the web site www.wiltshirefa.com/players/walking-football