The Stretford area is to be turned into the setting for a giant game in a bid to get the borough on the move in a boost to its residents' physical health and psychological health.

Beat the Street launches on Wednesday (February 28) and lasts for a month thanks to funding from Sport England, Trafford Council and Transport for Greater Manchester.

Already a success in other areas across the country the giant game requires anyone of any age, ability or background to travel to special sensors, or Beat Boxes, which are attached to lampposts across the area. Pupils at primary schools from St Alphonsus Primary School in the north to St Matthew's Primary School in the south are to receive the contactless cards required to play along with their parents.

Anyone else is able to collect these contactless cards from pick-up points including Stretford Leisure Centre and Stretford Public Hall or to use an app or their phone instead.

The bid to get the borough on the move is the idea of Intelligent Health founder and GP Dr William Bird and it comes after research showed 80 per cent of pupils at primary schools do not get the recommended 60 minutes of activity per day.

Tom Ross, the leader of Trafford Council, said: "We are excited to be bringing Beat the Street to Trafford. We know one of the best things people can do for their health is to move more and to get out into green space where possible, and Beat the Street helps people to do this in a fun way. 

"It is free to take part in Beat the Street and it is open to everyone regardless of age, ability or background. It is an inclusive game which encourages you to exercise from your front door and to clock up the miles within the game's framework."

Beat the Street launches on Wednesday (February 28) and lasts for a month. For information go to beatthestreet.me/trafford. 

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.