A WALKING and cycling game aimed at getting people to be more active is off to a running start.

More than 25,000 people across East Sussex have walked and cycled 48,000 miles for the Beat the Street competition.

The free scheme challenges people to see how far they can travel in their neighbourhood in return for points and prizes.

Players tap sensors called beat boxes which are dotted across the county by using cards available in leisure centres and libraries.

East Sussex County Council’s libraries and information service worker Rhona Drever said: “We have been completely overwhelmed with people coming in to libraries to pick up a beat card.

“From the conversations we have been having with visitors it is clear that the game has captured the excitement of everyone living in East Sussex.”

More than 250 schools and teams in East Sussex are competing against each other to see who can journey the furthest and win up to £500 worth of sports and fitness equipment.

Grovelands Community School in Hailsham is currently sitting on top of the leaderboards with 1,443 miles travelled together.

The game runs for another six weeks and people and schools still have time to sign up.

Beat the Street is funded by two of the county’s clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and the city council’s public health team.

It is part of wider moves to improve the health of people across the county.

Public health consultant Victoria Spencer-Hughes said: “We’re delighted to see so many people taking part by walking, running and cycling around their local community in the largest Beat the Street game in England so far.”

Eastbourne, Hailsham and Seaford CCG chairman Martin Writer said: “Increasing the amount of physical activity in our daily life is extremely important for maintaining and improving our health and wellbeing.

“Therefore it is brilliant to see so many people getting involved in Beat the Street individually or working as a team.”

To find out more details about the game visit beatthestreet.me/eastsussex.