SOUTHAMPTON athlete Iwan Thomas will launch a new online package to support physical and mental wellbeing during lockdown with a world record attempt.

The World champion sprinter turned TV presenter, who lives in Netley, has teamed up with Ordnance Survey (OS), also based in the city, for the effort, which is set to take place on Thursday.

At midday, he will be completing a step challenge and is inviting everyone to get involved, either by climbing the stairs or stepping on the spot.

Iwan told the Daily Echo: "It’s a very weird situation we are living in, and so it is especially important that while we isolate ourselves to support the NHS and government’s efforts to overcome this dreadful virus, we all look after our mental and physical health and the mental and physical health of others.

“I urge people, no matter what their age or ability, to get involved and stay healthy. Start with the step challenge this Thursday and see how it goes. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if in the future we could tell people how during the Covid-19 pandemic we all climbed Mount Everest in our homes?"

OS has created a calculator especially for the challenge that converts the number of steps you have done into how far up a building or mountain you have climbed. It is hoped the effort will create a new world record for the number of people doing steps simultaneously.

The new content hub will include a series of lively daily tips, challenges, puzzles, blogs, videos, virtual tours and activities to keep the young and old, and everyone in-between, physically active during these unprecedented times.

The initiative is a rebrand of the successful OS content hub GetOutside as GetOutside Inside and will feature celebrities including Ben Fogle and Julia Bradbury as well as more than 50 outdoor organisations, brands and retailers from across Europe.

To find out more, visit GetOutside.uk/Inside