Indoor rowing is taking off across the country as an individual sport, as well as continuing to be a training aid for water-based rowing and other sports, according to British Rowing.

With indoor rowing machines often seen in gyms, sports centres, rowing clubs and private homes across the country, the sport is highly accessible and even has its own competitions and events.

The British Rowing secondary schools indoor rowing programme offers advice for anyone, not just young people, thinking of taking up the exercise as part of their fitness training programme.

Similarly, the Tony Blair Sports Foundation also recommends indoor rowing as "a modern sport that offers people of all ages and abilities the chance to adopt a healthy, active, lifestyle".

"Indoor rowing improves cardiovascular fitness, can combat osteoporosis, and is conducted on equipment which works upper and lower body muscle groups simultaneously," a spokesperson from the foundation added.

Primary Care Trusts have already identified indoor rowing as an effective method of combating obesity and inactivity.