Hundreds celebrate 15 years of town's parkruns

The 5km timed runs have, for many, become a staple on a Saturday morning

Almost 430 runners and 66 volunteers came out to celebrate the 15th anniversary of a town's parkrun.

Lydiard parkrun in Swindon – one of many free, Saturday morning-timed 5km runs across the world – was the first to start in the South West.

One of Lydiard's directors, Emma Sperring, helped set up the first event and is still volunteering 15 years later. "People are passionate about it," she said.

On Saturday, which was marked with balloons and cake, one runner was completing a 400th run and another a 300th – with many more recording their personal bests.

The runs are timed – although walking is allowed – with participants collecting a token at the end which is used to give them their time.

One woman taking part on Saturday said: "I started running when I was 50 and parkrun was part of that.

"It introduces you to the running world and I'm now a member of a running club. It just opens up a world of staying fit and healthy in an endurable way."

Over the past 15 years, Lydiard parkrun has had 26,130 participants who have covered a distance of 1,135,500 km, or more than 700,000 miles.

Emma Sperring has been volunteering for parkrun for 15 years

Ms Sperring said there were just eight volunteers and 30 runners when Lydiard parkrun began.

"Back in the day, it was very low-key, she said.

"Now we're here all morning, we have people walking, running, we have people volunteering.

"It's all free and there's not much you can do free any more."