RESIDENTS are being encouraged to get fitter by taking part in an Olympic challenge event organised by Wiltshire Council and NHS Wiltshire.

To celebrate the Olympic torch spending four days in the county, health bosses want people to take part in the 2012 Wiltshire Challenge by swimming, walking, running, cycling or rowing a set distance and with the chance to win free gym or swimming membership for a year.

The gym event involves participants running, cycling and rowing 201.2km at their local gym during the 70-day, UK-wide torch relay. This can be done as an individual or as a team of four.

In the swim challenge, individuals swim 20.12km during the 70 days.

The sprint row championships seeks to find the fastest indoor rowers over 2012m.

The gym and swim challenge runs from May 19 to July 27 and the sprint row from May 19 to July 11.

Registration at leisure centres opens on May 5.

There is also a walking challenge, in which participants attend Active Health specialist exercise classes, and Wiltshire Council’s Walking for Health groups.

These groups will be offered the opportunity to take part in the challenge by undertaking more walking.

Their challenge will be to moderately increase the numbers of steps undertaken each of the ten weeks of the challenge.

It culminates in a Wiltshire Walking Festival, in Lacock, from July 24 to 26.

Trowbridge resident and Great Britain rhythmic gymnast Francesca Fox said: “I am honoured to support the hallenge, which will enable everyone across the county to set a goal and go for it.”

Maggie Rae, Wiltshire’s director of public health, said: “It is known that increased physical activity can have a really beneficial impact on both physical and mental health and I hope as many people as possible are encouraged to take part and improve their health and wellbeing in the process.”

Stuart Wheeler, cabinet member for leisure and sport, said: “The Olympics can prove a real inspiration to people to get fit and we want the challenge to give people a goal to work towards in the run-up to the most important event in the sporting calendar.

“We hope this will contribute to making Wiltshire the healthiest county in which to live.”