A POKEMON Go fanatic has walked 283 miles hunting the game’s 142 virtual monsters since its launch last month and has yet to catch them all.

Chris Oldfield, 31, of Redhill, Surrey, spends most evenings playing Nintendo’s smartphone game, often well into the early hours.

2 Pokemon Go has an estimated 7.5 million downloads in the US alone Credit: EPA

But he said the exercise is doing him good, adding: “I feel a lot fresher in the mornings. I work in IT so I could easily spend my life staring at screens.

"It's definitely something I'll be keeping up."

Chris befriended several like-minded Pokemon 'trainers' who are part of a local Facebook group and can be found most nights pounding the streets of Redhill in search of new Pokemon.

2 'Gotta catch em all' . . . despite walking over 200 miles Chris still has yet to capture all of the virtual monsters Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

He said: "You can kind of tell the people playing Pokemon and at first it was a little awkward just going up to strangers saying, 'Oh you playing Pokemon?'- but now it's really not.

"The social aspect is awesome in this game. It's something this country sorely needs post-Brexit since people aren't known these days for talking and getting to know other types of people."

"The core group I would say is aged around 20-27 but there are so many older people like me.

"I have seen quite a few people over 40 playing it. Seeing families out playing it has got to be one of the best things about the game."

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While staying up until the early hours playing Pokemon, Chris says this has allowed him to learn more about the history of his neighbourhood.

He said: "I learn a lot about the area when I play as well.

"I popped into the White Lion the other day because it's a Pokemon gym, and I was talking to the landlord about the history of the pub and how it was the oldest in Redhill.

"I didn't know this before and I definitely feel a lot more connected to the area finding out its history."