Free MOT health checks will be on offer for fans at Saturday's Colchester United match against Huddersfield to help launch the Healthy Stadia programme.

Over the coming months there will be a range of activities on offer to help everyone at the Weston Homes Community Stadium improve their health, while offering a place where people can go to have a positive, healthy experience playing and watching sport.

This includes visitors, fans, employees, volunteers and the surrounding community.

The MOT health checks will take place before Saturday's match, and during half time, with Colchester United Community Sports Trust's Chief Executive Eric Shirley and Chair of Trustees Mike Springett and Colchester United Chief Executive Steve Bradshaw, the first to take part.

In the East Stand concourse area there will be health checks with the Health Trainer team and the Colchester United Community Sports Trust (CUCST) nurse Lea Finch.

The free MOT health checks take just 10 minutes and include assessment on weight, body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose tests plus health and lifestyle advice.

Chlamydia screening and sexual health advice and guidance will also be available at the match.

Information will be on offer about a wide range of activities such as Fit Kids and Healthy Together, which encourage people of all ages to think about how they can lead a healthier lifestyle.

CUCST is also soon to host a family cookery club, helping people to discover tasty recipes which the whole family will enjoy.

To get the taste buds tingling and encourage people to sign up, there will be free tasters of some of the recipes that will be taught at the cookery club.

And, to encourage young football fans to eat their five a day, children will be invited to make their own fruit kebab.

Mike Springett, CUCST Chair of Trustees, said: "Through the Healthy Stadia project we will be helping everyone at the Community Stadium to access the advice and support they need to lead a healthy lifestyle.

"It's a really exciting project and we hope to make a real difference to people's lives over the coming months."

Eric Shirley, CUCST Chief Executive, said: "The health checks only take a few minutes and they are a great way of finding out how healthy you are.

"Health professionals will be on hand to offer advice and support on a whole range of health issues from quitting smoking or losing weight to managing stress."

Steve Bradshaw, Colchester United Chief Executive, said: "The club are delighted to be able to offer up this opportunity to fans.

"We are keen to lead the way in providing a healthy option at the Weston Homes Community Stadium and the health testing forms just one part of that."

Sue Felgate, Health Trainer Service Lead at NHS North East Essex, said: "The idea behind Health Trainers is to target those people who, for any number of reasons, find it difficult to modify their lifestyles.

"Health Trainers aim to support people to make healthier choices and adopt healthier lifestyles."