PEOPLE across Colchester are exercising more thanks to a game which challenged people to walk, run and cycle across the borough.

Last September, Colchester Council introduced Beat the Street for seven weeks and asked residents to find and tag pods hidden across the town, which recorded their activity levels.

A report has now been released showing people doing no exercise during the week has dropped from 12 per cent to 8 per cent following the game.

It also highlighted adults walking or cycling for ten minutes or more on five days a week increased from 65 per cent to 68 per cent.

Tim Young, (Lab) deputy leader of Colchester Council, said: “I’m delighted that the Beat the Street game was so well received in Colchester and that the End of Game report highlights the positive impact the game had on local residents’ lives and levels of activity.

“Although the game ended in November, it’s fantastic that its legacy continues and the team are continuing to encourage residents to stay active with further projects and initiatives.”

Beat the Street ran from September 20 to November 8 and saw more than 13,000 residents run, walk and cycle more than 100,000 miles.

More than 65 per cent of adults and 29 per cent of children aged ten to 11 in Colchester are classified as overweight or obese with levels of inactivity of Colchester adults at 24 per cent, according to Sport England Active Lives 2016/17.

The report, created by Intelligent Health, which is the company behind the game, also showed adults reporting doing no walking or cycling for travel in the past week decreased from 10 per cent to six per cent after the game.

It was organised by Colchester Council, Livewell Colchester, Colchester Catalyst and the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Intelligent Health will be speaking to players again later this year to see if the changes made during Beat the Street have been sustained in the long-term.