According to a report in The Sunday Times, the government is going to make Britain’s biggest food companies pay an ‘anti-obesity’ levy that will go towards funding for new sports centres.

If the levy isn’t paid, food companies such as Walkers, Cadbury Schweppes and McDonald’s could face laws restricting the advertising, marketing and labelling of their products.

The proposal was revealed to the newspaper via leaked cabinet documents detailing the minutes of a ministerial meeting between the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Treasury.

It is believed that the food firms will be asked to contribute ‘tens of millions’ of pounds towards sports facilities.

For every £3m pledged by the food industry to the new scheme, the government will provide £1m. The funds will be used to build gyms, sports centres, football pitches and tennis courts.

The plans will be discussed in further detail this week, when food industry groups including the Food and Drink Federation and British Retail Consortium meet with ministers.