Town parkrun celebrates 500th event

Taunton's parkrun has reached 500 races

Taunton's parkrun has reached its 500th race, after first starting in 2013.

More than 430 runners joined the weekly event to celebrate the milestone, with the race attended by a number of local dignitaries.

More than 17,000 people have crossed the finish line in its 11 year history, and it had recruited 1,300 volunteers.

Race director Jamie Hill said he was "very proud" of the teams of volunteers which supported the event every week,

The race first started in 2013

Speaking to BBC Radio Somerset, Mr Hill said the race "can't happen without volunteers.

"That's 20 plus volunteers every week, just to make sure our park runners can run around safely, and have the event set up and ready for them at 09:00 on a Saturday morning."

More than 40 people helped at the 500th parkrun, which is known as Longrun Meadow - named after the park in which it is held.

Mr Hill also said the race was often used by parkrun tourists, who were maybe staying in the area, or travelling along the M5 on Saturday mornings.

Local dignitaries joined race director Jamie Hill (R)

Mr Hill said he hoped to get to the next milestone of 1,000 parkruns, adding: "If the demand is there we will do it.

"We're supported by the friends of French Weir, we've got Taunton Town Council... we're able to store our equipment, and we've got the Weir Cafe that gets swamped with parkrunners on a Saturday."

He said the weekly run supported people from all walks of life, explaining: "It can often do people a lot of good... we have all sorts of people who come down and volunteer and get something from it... when you put on that high-viz it's amazing what people come and tell you.

"It's a real privilege."