Swindon Half Marathon cancelled as not profitable, organisers say

The Swindon Half Marathon has been cancelled because it is no longer viable, organisers have said.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF), which has run the event since 2013, said the high running costs meant it was "no longer a sound investment".

The 13.1 mile (21km) run, which was due to be held on Sunday 11 October, would have been in its 12th consecutive year.

Alistair Hills, from BHF, said it could "no longer" operate the race as it was "vital" its events were profitable.

He said: "As a charity we need to be extremely shrewd where we allocate our funds to maximise fundraising.

"The high costs of running this event means it is no longer a sound investment for the BHF."

Runners who had signed up to the 2015 event would be contacted directly and offered a refund or entry into another BHF event, he added.

The charity took over the event from Swindon Borough Council two years ago.

Last year, the road-race attracted more than 1,500 runners.