An MP has signed up to a national campaign to encourage children to learn outdoors.

Andrew Bridgen, MP for North West Leicestershire, is backing a campaign by the Countryside Alliance Foundation to get outdoor education placed on the national curriculum.

He said: "We need to get children outside in the countryside rather than trying to learn about the natural world from inside a concrete building.

"As well as bringing up a generation who have a greater understanding and appreciation of the natural world, the benefits in terms of health and wellbeing are huge."

Alice Barnard, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance Foundation, said: "It's terrific that Andrew has added his name to this campaign. There is a growing chorus of support for getting children learning outside the classroom, ranging from politicians, to countryside campaign groups, to parents and even the kids."