SCHOOL uniform shops in Somerset are having to stock 'sturdy' clothes with up to 40in waists to cope with the needs of obese children

SCHOOL uniform shops in Somerset are having to stock 'sturdy' clothes with up to 40in waists to cope with the needs of obese children.Deane & Sons, in Bath Street, Cheddar, is one of the shops stocking larger sizes and can also cater for up to a 54in shirt.The growing number of overweight children is being put down to a severe lack of exercise.Store manager Keith Brant said: "We have started doing what we call sturdy trousers that are short in the leg but quite wide. We keep lots of sizes in stock but often order in larger sizes as well."According to a recent survey around 20 per cent of children are overweight and 2.5 per cent are severely overweight or obese. Deputy manager at Cheddar's Kings of Wessex Leisure Centre, Alex Rainbow agrees there is a problem that is only getting worse. He said: "Kids would rather be out the back of the leisure centre smoking a fag than actually inside it doing exercise."We have plenty of activities for children aged 13 and below, and parents of teenagers say they want something for their kids to do, but the teens themselves just don't seem interested."If we had a demand for teen sports we would certainly provide them. But the interest isn't there. I guess it isn't cool to be seen in a leisure centre." The Government has pledged to reduce the rise in obese youngsters by 2010. A Cheddar parent, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: "There isn't much the Government can do, it's the parents. They let their children sit in front of computers and televisions instead of encouraging them to join sports clubs. There's plenty out there, it just comes down to pure laziness.