Teenage girls will be given free dance classes in an attempt to encourage them to exercise more, under a scheme launched yesterday.

The Scottish Government is investing almost £1m in the Free to Dance project, which will see instructors from Scottish Youth Dance visiting schools and youth groups and providing professional dance training.

The three-year scheme will run in Glasgow, Ayrshire and Orkney, and organisers are hoping that more than 1000 girls a year will take part.

Dedicated programmes will also be run for single mothers and girls with special needs.

Statistics show that while levels of exercise are roughly similar for boys and girls of primary school age, from S1 onwards rates of physical activity in girls begin to fall.

Around two-thirds of teenage girls do not undertake the recommended one hour a day of physical activity, compared to around one-third of teenage boys.

Matthew Lowther, the government's physical activity policy co-ordinator, said: "Boys are much more likely to go out in the street with a football.

"Girls prefer to spend their leisure time in more sedentary activities. PE lessons aren't seen as cool, and that's why our strategy prioritises this particular group."

Carolyn Lappin, executive director of Scottish Youth Dance, said: "There isn't a tradition of dance schools in Scotland. In schools, dance tends to be taught by PE teachers.

"We have a team of dedicated dance teachers and the sessions are intended to encourage the girls to come to lunchtime groups and after-school classes."