MOST children in the UK spend less time outdoors than prison inmates, a survey has found.

Three out of every four youngster aged six to 11 spend less than an hour each day playing outside compared to the minimum 60 minutes of exercise and fresh air recommended for prisoners.

A new global report released today shows that a third of UK children play outside for 30 minutes or less a day, while nearly one in five do not play outdoors at all.

Unreliable British weather, lack of time and children wanting to stay inside were the most common reasons give by parents for why their children spent so much time indoors.

The results emerged in a poll of 12,000 parents worldwide undertaken as part of the 'Play in Balance' report, commissioned by detergent manufacturer Persil.

Three quarters of parents also reported that their child preferred to play virtual sports rather than "real" sports outside, and that nearly four in 10 under-sevens have never played conkers.

Clare Logan, senior brand manage for Persil in the UK said: “We were shocked when we discovered that children today are enjoying as little time outside as prisoners."