GIRLS in Dwyfor Meirionnydd are among the most active in Wales, according to new research showing the constituency has the smallest sports participation gap between boys and girls in the country.

The study by research consultancy Public First, commissioned by Sky, found girls aged 11 to 18 in Dwyfor Meirionnydd play just 28 minutes less sport each week than boys. Nationally, the average gap is 84 minutes.

The constituency was identified as one of the strongest-performing areas in the UK, where girls miss out on an average of 70 minutes of sport each week compared with boys.

The findings build on Sky's Game Changing report, published last year, which found girls miss out on 280 million hours of sport annually compared with boys. The new constituency-level analysis examined all 650 UK parliamentary constituencies to identify where participation gaps are widest and where girls have the best access to sport.

Ahead of National Fitness Day, the research highlighted the wider benefits of increasing girls' participation. Sky estimates that closing the gender gap in sport could generate £570 million in annual productivity gains and save the NHS £73 million each year.

Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP Liz Saville Roberts welcomed the findings.

She said: "This achievement reflects the dedication of schools, volunteers and sports clubs across Dwyfor Meirionnydd.

"From girls' football clubs in Caernarfon and Porthmadog to rugby and netball programmes across the constituency, local organisations are working hard to ensure girls have the confidence, support and opportunities to enjoy sport and physical activity.

"Their efforts are helping create a culture where more young women can participate, compete and thrive."

Jonathan Licht, Sky's Chief Sports Officer for the UK and Ireland, said every girl should have the opportunity to experience the benefits of sport and called for action to remove barriers to participation.