A new river walk has been announced by the government as ministers try to improve access to nature in England.

The 13-mile (21km) walk will go through Greater Manchester and the north-west of England. There will be a river walk in each region of the country by the end of parliament, the government has pledged.

No footpath would be created as part of the “new” river walk, government sources confirmed, but the initiative will enable nature recovery work, accessibility upgrades and community engagement work along the route.