Runner, 91, seizes the day at first Parkrun

"It's a really good social event with a bit of running thrown in," said Michael Thorley

A man has completed his first-ever Parkrun at the age of 91.

Michael Thorley finished the 5km (3.1-mile) run on Mersea Island, Essex, in just over an hour.

He met both his aims for the run - to finish the course and to not come last - and said he wanted to encourage people to have a go and make some more friends.

"If I don't do it now, when am I going to do it? I'm getting older by the day," he said.

Michael and Sarah Thorley have just celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary

Mr Thorley first signed up for Parkrun - a weekly, timed 5km event which takes place in more than 20 countries across the world - four years ago, just one year after undergoing heart surgery.

But he did not take part until a fortnight ago, clocking a time of 1:03:04.

"It's a question of 'Carpe Diem' ['seize the day' in Latin]," he said.

He is not the oldest person to have taken part in Parkrun, however.

Harold Messam was a regular at a Parkrun in Long Eaton, Derbyshire, at the age of 95, while Colin Thorne marked his 101st birthday in style in January by completing his 217th Parkrun in Whangarei, New Zealand.

Mr Thorley's wife Sarah, 69, is a regular Parkrunner, last week completing her 100th, with a time of 32:15.

She comes back "enthused" from the event, thanks to the "wonderful, friendly and encouraging people".

She said: "The real stars are the people who set it all up; all the volunteers every week.

"Some people are here every week and they mightn't even ever have done a run, but they're here because they like it. It's a really nice, friendly place."

Race director Viv Fox said: "We're just really lucky to have a core group of people who like coming here week in and week out and just enjoy the atmosphere."