Vending machines are full of snacks containing high levels of fat, sugar and salt

Crisps and chocolate are on sale where children exercise despite being banned from schools and children's TV, according to a charity.

Vending machines in leisure centres, parks, bowling alleys and ice-skating rinks are filled with snacks containing high levels of fat, sugar and salt, a study found.

Children's menus in places where children exercise are also dominated by junk food such as burgers, sausages and fizzy drinks, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) said.

A lack of controls on the industry means efforts to tackle obesity are being undermined as children face a "barrage of unhealthy products", the charity warned.

The Food Commission compiled the study, called A Fit Choice, following visits to 35 leisure venues in and around London.

Its report found that fresh fruit was displayed at fewer than half of the venues while children's "meal deals" mainly included fried foods like chips, nuggets, sausages and burgers.

Such foods have already been significantly restricted in schools.

Nutritional information was displayed at just two of the venues visited, meaning parents were limited in accessing information that could help them make good choices for their child, the BHF said.

It now wants councils and private venues to ensure healthy food options are available and to bring in stricter controls on vending machines.

Peter Hollins, chief executive of the BHF, said: "The average calorie content of the 21 vending machine snacks found most frequently was 203 calories. A seven-year-old would need to do a staggering 88 minutes of swimming to use that up."