Strictly Come Dancing judge Darcey Bussell has said that Britain has got too "soft" on children - who are not instilled with enough competitive spirit.

The former prima ballerina, 45, said that she worried that today's children lack the drive to succeed in a career like dance.

"I think we are getting a little bit soft on kids. Their options are limitless and the technology is extraordinary," she told Radio Times magazine.

"It would be easy to stay locked up in a room on a computer all day but if you're not physical when you're a child, when are you going to be?

"And that's what worries me. Kids are either naturally lazy or naturally hyper - they have to be motivated into trying things out and committing to them. "

The mother-of-two, who retired from ballet in 2007, said that British children should be doing more sport.

"When we lived in Australia, sport was compulsory every Saturday for every child. I think the Government is only just starting to realise how important that is," Bussell said.

"In dance, like any sport, you have to have real dedication and I don't think kids today are prepared to put in the hard work.

"It's not a highly paid career, you're not going to always get the job, however talented you are.

"So it's a question of 'Do I go into a profession that I'm absolutely passionate about but might not succeed in? And put in the hours to even stand a chance?'