A gentle 30-minute walk is as good at reducing hypertension as walking fast for an hour, researchers found.

Even walking at a brisk pace for 30 minutes was found to be no more effective at reducing blood pressure than more gentle exertion.

The discovery was made by a team from the Department of Sport Science, Tourism and Leisure at Canterbury Christ Church University in Kent.

They recorded the blood pressure of middle-aged men who suffered from hypertension.

The readings were taken after 30 minutes of rest, walking at 50 per cent effort for 30 minutes, walking at 65 per cent effort for 30 minutes and walking at 50 per cent effort for 60 minutes.

Andrew Scott, who led the research, said the improvements seen among those who exercised for 30 minutes at 50 per cent exertion were as good as those who kept going for an hour or who worked out more intensively.

Mr Scott told the annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine in Indianapolis, Indiana, that the findings might help patients who found long bouts of exercise unappealing.

"Our study found that walking for longer than 30 minutes or at a more vigorous intensity had no additional effects on lowering blood pressure," he said.

"Those who also wish to lose weight may want to exercise for a longer period of time, but it will not contribute to a further reduction of blood pressure. Ultimately, our findings support the American College of Sports Medicine's recommendation that healthy adults should undertake at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on at least five days per week."

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