The findings cover the 12 months from mid-May 2019 to mid-May 2020 and include the first seven weeks of lockdown restrictions imposed to prevent the disease from spreading.

The survey shows that the gains made in the first 10 months of the year were cancelled out by drops in activity levels during this period, despite an increase in cycling for leisure, running outside and exercising at home as people adapted their activity habits during the pandemic.

More than three million people were less active between mid-March and mid-May compared to the same period a year before, and this demonstrates the extent to which people’s lives were disrupted.

The findings also highlight the importance of organised sport and access to facilities for specific groups, and that some groups found it more difficult to adapt to the new regulations than others.

Lisa Wainwright, CEO of the Sport and Recreation Alliance, said the figures were largely expected due to the tough conditions faced by the sector since the start of lockdown.

“An area of concern is the disproportionate effect that lockdown has had on certain groups. Disabled people, those with long-term health conditions, people aged over 70 and people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority groups for whom fewer opportunities already exist, have found it increasingly difficult to get active.

“This serves as a reminder as to why community clubs and organised structures are so vital in the delivery of grassroots sport and recreation activity to every city, town and village in the country,” she said.

“This is why, alongside ukactive and over 160 sport and recreation organisations, we have written to the Prime Minister and asked him to protect the future of community sport with a Sports Recovery Fund as part of the #SaveOurSports campaign.”