Britons' love affair with the car is alive and well despite rising petrol prices and increased congestion, with research showing just over a fifth of drivers would use their vehicles for trips of 500 metres and less.

A survey released on Monday revealed the average Briton walks for just one hour a week - covering 208 miles annually. Twenty one percent said they would take the car for very short trips. Fear of dog excrement was cited by 36 percent of city dwellers for a reason not to walk in their locality.

However, the poll of 2,500 adults commissioned to mark the return of "River Walks with Charlie Dimmock", found some people were prepared to expend some energy in getting from A to B.

About 22 percent of respondents said they walked an average of 500 miles a year.

"We are lucky to live is a country with such a varied landscape and there are some fantastic local walks to be explored," said channel head of UKTV Gardens Catherine Catton.

"We're encouraging people to get out of their cars to see Britain at its best by foot."

The online poll was carried out between March 1 and March 21.