East Yorkshire women's running group say men 'intimidating' after dark

Members of Brough Fitmums in Hull feel intimidated by men while running at night

Women runners in East Yorkshire say they feel "intimidated" by men while running at night as research highlights a fear of exercising after dark.

Members of Brough Fitmums & Friends said the harassment meant they now ran in groups and used tracking devices.

A survey found 60% of women fear sexual harassment while exercising at night.

One Fitmums & Friends member said: "If you find something you love it should be something you feel free to do whenever you want."

The new poll also found that 48% of women preferred not to be active outside after dark and that 46% changed their outdoor exercise routines during winter to accommodate a perceived "curfew".

The research, part of Sport England's This Girl Can campaign, also found more than a quarter of the 1,000 women surveyed said the limitations left them feeling "sad" or "frustrated".

Brough Fitmums & Friends coordinator Angela Eary told the BBC that even though they ran in groups, the women were still "shouted and beeped at really loudly".

Sophie Hoggarth said that women shoud run in groups and have the latest tracking tech

She said: "While we're in a group we can laugh it off, but if I was running on my own I would feel different.

"In other areas in Hull groups of youths in corners harassing us. It's intimidating.

"It's frustrating and annoying and when I'm running alone, I won't go off the beaten track and stay to lit areas."

Ms Eary said Fitmums members also stayed safe by wearing high-visibility clothing, making sure all routes were pre-planned and each member was tracked with a "mumbot" app.

Run leader Sophie Hoggarth said she found the new data "worrying" and advised women to run in groups and have up-to-date technology so they could be tracked.

Kate Dale, Sport England's Director of Marketing, added: "The fact that women can't have access to something that is so important for mental and physical wellbeing for half the year is infuriating.

"We have to change it."