A national campaign to encourage more women to get active was launched in Hertfordshire on Monday.

This Girl Can Herts is organised by Herts Sports Partnership with the support of other groups in the county, to get as many women as possible in the county taking part in sport on the back of Sport England’s national This Girl Can campaign.

The Herts initiative was officially launched at the Arsenal FC training ground in London Colney on Monday.

Arsenal Ladies and England footballer Jordan Nobbs, Saracens RFC and England’s Georgia Peedle and Stevenage Ladies’ Donna McGuigan were at the event launch.

Hertfordshire-based teenage swimmer Ruby Codiroli, who has Down’s syndrome, features in the national advertising campaign and was also at the launch.

Sport England’s Hannah Blaydon said: “What we are learning from the insight, broader than the campaign, is that we can’t just blanket assume that everyone is desperately trying to do fun, competitive sporty activities in a traditional manner.

“We often need to have a bespoke, much more tailored, much more considered approach around the individual and the experience that someone wants to have.”

More than 180 sports and fitness sessions from roller skating to pole dancing and netball to football will be available from Friday. October 16 to Sunday, October 25.

Miss Nobbs said the campaign was crucial to getting women to take part in sports and exercise.

She added: “When the [This Girl Can] advert came out everyone wanted to watch it and be inspired by it.

“There’s not many times I go out and don’t see a woman jogging down the road now which I think a long time ago that wouldn’t have happened.

“It’s also crucial that when women get involved and they have children they then naturally look up to them.

“If they see their mum exercise it’s something they will want to have a career in it or just be fit and healthy.”

Speaking of her introduction to rugby and hopes for the campaign, Peedle, said: “I started playing rugby about nine years ago when a local coach came to my school said ‘come over and give it a try’ and I didn’t look back.

“There’s something out there for everyone, it makes me feel really empowered to do sport so hopefully it will have that effect on everyone else.”

McGuigan added: “The campaign is challenging stereotypes and encouraging people to be excited about sport no matter the age, no matter your size.

“It should be encouraged that women get involved in sport, it’s not just elite athletes.”

For more information, visit: www.sportinherts.org.uk.