Almost two-thirds of women who own a dog are wary of walking their pet at night during winter as they fear for their personal safety.

According to new research, 61% said they exercise their pet less, with 57% concerned about poorly lit streets and a lack of safe walking routes. Drunk and anti-social behaviour are also a major concern for 54% of women surveyed.

Around 83% of those polled said that their dogs get up to 30 minutes less walking each day, losing nearly 3.5 hours of walkies per week, according to the research by YuMOVE, the UK's no.1 vet-recommended joint supplement brand.

Safety is a particular concern in Greater London, where as many as 78% of women have fretted over their safety on nighttime walks. Close behind are Belfast (76%), Brighton (70%), Wales (69%), and the South East (64%).

To take back the night for women and their canine pals, YuMOVE CEO Fiona Hope and WalkSafe hosted the first-ever 'NightWalkies' event in Bury St Edmunds on Monday.

Hope said, "NightWalkies is a simple idea based on a confronting fact - that women dog owners walk their dogs less than men, often because they feel unsafe in the dark. We'd all prefer that wasn't the case."

Those behind the walk aim to spark a national trend for shared community walks that help women feel safe and their dogs well-exercised.

As many as 74% of women surveyed admitted they would welcome similar organised events when the evenings get darker, so YuMOVE is initiating walks up and down the country.

Hope added, "NightWalkies is a way to connect with other women in your community whilst ensuring your dog is happy and healthy all winter long. So grab your friends, neighbours, or start a local group and join your fellow dog walkers to enjoy walkies all winter long! When women feel safer, dogs can enjoy more of the exercise that keeps their joints supple, their tails wagging, and their wellbeing thriving. This is what NightWalkies sets out to do."

To make NightWalkies accessible to women everywhere, YuMOVE has created a downloadable NightWalkies Toolkit in partnership with leading safety app WalkSafe. This is available to download from the YuMOVE website here: https://yumove.co.uk/pages/nightwalkies