Hundreds sign up to enjoy Shrewsbury's first 'park run'

A total of 265 people signed up for the county town's inaugural event in Quarry Park.

The run started at 9am on Saturday and saw entrants timed as they raced round the course.

Runners were then able to download their results from a computer at Stop Cafe, in St Julian's Crescent.

The organisation Parkrun is responsible for free, weekly, 5km timed runs taking place all around the world open to all.

Shrewsbury's first event was organised in partnership with Energize Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin County Sports partnership and Shropshire Council Public Health.

The free run in Shrewsbury will continue each week.

It was one of seven launched at the weekend, including new park runs in Northern Ireland, South Africa and Australia.

Shrewsbury mayor Councillor Jon Tandy, who officially opened the event with the mayoress, hailed the park run a big success.

He said: "The lad who won the first park run completed the two laps of the Quarry in 16 minutes and one second – it was incredibly quick and he looked as if he could do it again quite easily. But it's not just about the professionals. Anybody can join in and I'm going to take part at one point – it doesn't even matter if you can't finish the course.

"I even saw a lady running around with her baby in the pram today and it was such a great turnout with 265 people signing up for the first one.

"It will now carry on weekly and I hope even more people will turn out next week once word spreads about this fantastic initiative."