NEARLY 75,000 adults in Surrey have ditched the car or public transport and taken up walking regularly in their daily lives in the last three years, according to official figures.

Department for Transport statistics reveal the number of residents making journeys of 10 minutes or more on foot three times a week has climbed almost eight per cent in just three years to 37 per cent, equivalent to an extra 73,600 people.

There was also a near five per cent hike in the number of people walking five times a week,the equivalent of more than 47,000 people, to almost 24 per cent.

The percentage of people walking three times a week for leisure also increased, rising two per cent to 23.5 per cent.

The news comes as Surrey County Council presses ahead with its Pavement Horizon project to overhaul more than 200 miles of footpaths.

John Furey, Surrey’s cabinet member for highways, said: “Clearly more and more adults across Surrey are getting from A-to-B in their daily lives on foot instead of jumping in the car or using public transport.

“We’re making that easier by overhauling more than 200 miles of pavements across the county in the coming years.

“That’s roughly the distance between Guildford and Manchester and while rising demand for services – like elderly care – means money’s tight, it’s one of the many ways we’re working hard to make a big difference in people’s lives.”