Storm Amy forces endurance hike cancellation

The Longmynd Hike has been taking place for 58 years

A 50-mile endurance walk has been called off because of the threat of Storm Amy.

The Longmynd Hike is a 24-hour challenge over the Shropshire Hills which was due to set off from Church Stretton on Saturday.

It will be only the fourth time the event has been cancelled in its 58-year history.

This year's event had been dedicated to the memory of the event's late chairman Terry Davies, who died in June.

A well known fell runner in the area, Terry Davies ran the hike twice, back-to-back, to celebrate the event's 40th anniversary in 2007.

His father George Davies founded the hike, which has grown over the years to 650 entrants.

The hike was cancelled in 2001 due to foot and mouth disease and again in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A statement from the organisers said: "The safety of our hikers and volunteers is paramount."

They said they would contact all entrants with information on the next steps.