Experts believe around 30 lives have been saved and at least another 64 transformed thanks to a health and fitness initiative.

Blackburn with Darwen’s re:fresh scheme has been hailed a success after research revealed that around 30 premature deaths, 20 heart attacks, 30 cases of diabetes, 10 strokes and four potential cancer diagnosis’ had been prevented.

And as a result of the re:fresh scheme the NHS in the borough may saved around £200,000 a year on treatments.

Despite the savings to the NHS, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and the Care Trust Plus have agreed to invest a further £1.65 million with a promise of further funding to extend the programme for another two years.

Set up three years ago, 15,000 people take part in some kind of physical activity through re:fresh and 7,500 more started doing the recommended weekly 90 minutes.

Although initially offering access to leisure facilities in the borough for free some small charges have been introduced.

Activities such as swimming, gym workouts and community based activities remain free.

Director of public health for Blackburn with Darwen, Dominic Harrison, said: "Re:fresh is making a real difference to people in Blackburn with Darwen.

"These figures are just estimates but the benefits are real. Many, many people have improved the quality of their day to day lives.

"The savings to the borough by avoiding the costs of poor health are also very real, which is why despite the current challenges we are facing we've decided to reinvest in re:fresh."

Blackburn with Darwen Council's executive member for Culture and Leisure, Coun Damian Talbot, said: "It has made a significant difference to the health of our residents and I hope that as many people as possible continue to take advantage of the scheme so that we can see more results like these."

The figures were derived from the number of people who began exercising because of re:fresh and the illnesses they could have developed if they had not taken up any physical activity, according to previous research studies.