THE Beat the Street interactive fitness game has launched in Dudley with more than 6,100 participants signing up on its first day.

The free game, which encourage people of all ages to get active, started on Wednesday June 29 and will run until Wednesday August 10 to coincide with the Commonwealth Games.

An official launch took place at Dudley Canal and Caverns, attended by the game’s founder Dr William Bird, plus representatives from Dudley Council and children from Foxyard’s Academy.

More than 250 beeping and flashing ‘Beat Boxes’ have been placed on lampposts around the borough for the duration of the game to help participants explore the area and develop the habit of regular exercise.

People can pick up a contactless card from one of the distribution points listed online at beatthestreet.me/dudley

Players then walk, cycle or roll between the contactless Beat Boxes – spaced approximately half a mile apart – hovering their cards over the Beat Boxes to score points.

The further players travel, the more points they score for their community or school team.

There are leaderboards for schools, community teams and players can also choose to join one of the three charity teams Black Country Toy Appeal, Tough Enough to Care and MacMillan Cancer.

The first week of the game is themed ‘Go Play’ for players to get to grips with the rules and subsequent weeks have a different focus, from Go Explore to Go Wild and Go Travel.

Councillor Ian Bevan, Dudley Council’s cabinet member for public health and wellbeing, said: said: “We’re delighted the game will give everyone of ages and abilities the opportunity to explore the area, to spend time together as a family and to enjoy walking, cycling and rolling outdoors in all the wonderful green spaces in our borough. It’s free and open to anyone of any age.”