A COMPETITION has spiralled out of control as cheaters try and scam the Beat the Street challenge in order to win the monetary prize.

Outraged parents have come forward, calling out players who drive up to the Beat boxes across the town so that their children can hop out and swipe their cards, defeating the object of the healthy lifestyle campaign.

Kristian Gustavsson, had just finished visiting the Beat box at Blessed Hugh Farringdon with his family when he saw a car drive up to the box.

The-father-of-three said on social media: “The young daughter got out of the car, hit the box, then got back into the car and drove off. Not quite in the spirit of the game, on the surface of it.”

A Caversham mum of two primary school aged children said she found it “outrageous” that adults would stoop to cheating.

She said: “I was out one day with the girls and just saw somebody swipe several cards all together at the same time and they were on their own.

“My children questioned that and know about cheating.

“I think there will always be cheating involved when there is money and prizes to be won and I think it’s a shame.”

Reports of a car almost knocking pedestrian players over as it made a u-turn after driving up to the box were also aired on social media.

The purpose of Beat the Street is to encourage residents to walk, or cycle to Beat boxes, where they collect points that add up to overall and daily prizes.

The school with the most points will win a prize at the end of the eight-week competition.

Katherine Knight, marketing director of Intelligent Health, said: “The prize is improving your health, so the people who are cheating are cheating themselves. “They are a minority, but we will ensure that they do not spoil the competition for those who are playing properly.”

She added: “We will be wiping their cards, so that it will have an impact on their team. We will be writing to schools to remind people that the challenge is about the community coming together and about getting active.”

Nearly 20,000 players have signed up to the competition, and there will be another opportunity to sign up to the challenge at Meadows Madness on Saturday from 11am to 4pm.

At the Children’s Festival at Forbury Gardens, there will be a Beat the Street stand and a Beat box which will earn players double points and LEGO prizes. For concerns about the cheaters, contact team@beatthestreet.me