RESIDENTS in Calne and Devizes are being invited to Beat the Street as part of new activity challenge being launched this weekend.

Beat The Street is a walking, running and cycling competition where players register movement via beat boxes placed around the town.

The initiative, which aims to increase the amount of exercise people do, has been commissioned by Wiltshire Council with 3,000 people already committed to taking part so far.

Maggie Rae, Wiltshire Council corporate director, said: “Initiatives such as this help to improve general health and wellbeing for people in Wiltshire by opening up activities to everyone. This is ideal for groups of all ages, and I’m sure it will prove to be a real success.”

Beat the Street is funded through a health technology company, Intelligence Health, which has sponsored the project, with Calne and Devizes putting in a joint application.

It will be in both Devizes and Calne for six weeks, from May 6 until June 17, with 42 different beat boxes located in each town.

Journeys are recorded via tapping two or more boxes in a day with an Oyster style smart card, which will flash and light up to register the activity.

Players will then be able to see how they are doing via the Beat The Street website.

Keith Humphries, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for health, said: “This is informal exercise at its best – it’s about doing what you can, when you can. It is all about having fun and aims to help people start or maintain an active lifestyle.

“We hope this will also help improve the air quality in the towns, as it will encourage people to walk rather than using their cars.”

Residents also can win prizes with a share of a £1,500 prize pot is up for grabs for the teams that travel the furthest.

Additionally if the players travel more than 75,000 miles there will be a donation to both town libraries of £500 each.

To play residents pick up a card from GP practices, the libraries, Calne Community Hub and leisure centres.

For more information go to www.intelligenthealth.co.uk or email Clare Smale at clare.smale@intelligenthealth.co.uk

Devizes Area Board is putting together a team and is looking for people to join them. To do this email Richard.Rogers@wiltshire.gov.uk with your name and contact details.