A new study has revealed that walking just 20 minutes extra every day could cuts the risk of cardiovascular episodes such as heart attacks by eight per cent.

According to experts, increasing daily exercise by just 2,000 steps may be good for older people who may struggle to exercise regularly and is recommended for the overweight and those with a family history of diabetes, the Daily express reported.

Study's lead author Dr Thomas Yates, of Leicester University, said their results provide novel evidence that changing physical activity levels through simply increasing the number of steps taken can substantially reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The study looked at 9,306 adults from 40 countries with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), a precursor to diabetes.

It found an extra 2,000 steps a day over one year - 20 minutes of moderate walking daily - cuts the risk of cardiovascular -episodes such as heart attacks by eight per cent.

The study is published in journal The Lancet.