Runners remember town's 'Mr Parkrun'

Bob Emmerson previously told the BBC he was a "proper, serious, ultra-runner" in his younger days

Almost 540 people took part in a Parkrun dedicated to a keen athlete who died aged 92 in May.

Bob Emmerson, who was referred to as "Mr Northampton Parkrun", completed 537 of the weekly 5km running events at the town's Racecourse park, and volunteered at a further 53.

Many runners answered the call to wear green T-shirts, similar to the ones Mr Emmerson wore, and bring food to donate to a charity.

His son, also called Bob, joined in on Saturday, wearing one of the green Silverstone 10k T-shirts belonging to his dad and he said he was overwhelmed by the support.

An average of about 400 people typically take part in Northampton's Parkrun, but 539 turned up on Saturday, many wearing green

Mr Emmerson, who died in his sleep on 27 May, kept active despite having both his hips resurfaced.

He was rarely seen at Parkrun with anything other than a distinctive green Silverstone 10k 30th anniversary T-shirt.

He took part in many other Parkruns, including at Brixworth Country Park, Daventry and Kettering, in Northamptonshire, plus ones in Darlington in County Durham, Market Harborough in Leicestershire, and Bushy Park in south-west London, where the first Parkrun took place.

Matt Bushell, co-event director of the Northampton one, said: "It was lovely to have Bob's son Robert back running at the event and to see so many Parkrunners wearing green - the colour of Bob's usual running top."

Mr Emmerson's son, also called Bob, ran in the green 2008 Silverstone 10k T-shirt his father usually ran in...

... despite its back being almost entirely shredded through use

The 92-year-old was also a keen gardener at his home in Walgrave.

"The inspiration for 'Bob Day' was his love of handing out food grown in his allotment to Parkrunners on a Saturday morning," said Mr Bushell.

"It felt fitting to support the McCarthy Dixon Foundation with a collection of food for the most vulnerable across the county."

The charity supports people in the county facing financial hardship and isolation.

The mass participation 5km run celebrated its 20th anniversary last year having been started by 13 participants in London in 2004.

Participants donated non-perishable foods in his memory