BRIDPORT Parkrun is set to celebrate its third birthday this Saturday and will do so in the only way they know how… with a run!

The popular event takes place at St Mary’s fields and organisers are encouraging faces old and new to pop down, go for a jog, and enjoy some well-earned cake.

The event, on July 2, will mark the third anniversary of the weekly free event but owing to Covid restrictions will be just the 87th edition of the 5km.

Parkrun is a global movement in which free, timed runs (or walks) take place in nearly 1,000 towns and cities every Saturday of the year at 9am. Parkrun aims to be an inclusive environment: welcoming everyone no matter how slow or faster they are. The event always has a tail-walker so that you’ll never finish in last place.

The event is also run entirely by volunteers: more than 20 of whom come out every week to help put it on.

Event Director Sarah Kay, said, “We are told by visitors that Bridport’s parkrun is one of the friendliest they have ever been to, and we are proud to keep up that tradition. Our volunteers are amazing, but we always need more, so please go to our website and get involved”.

A spokesperson for the Bridport Parkrun Team said: “Why not come along on the 2nd to see how welcoming they are. To run you need to sign up for free and get a barcode which you bring along on the day, on paper or just on your phone - as simple as that. Sign up here: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/register/ and make sure you put St Mary’s as your home run.”

The three year anniversary comes shortly after the birth of a new parkrun event with Lyme Regis hosting their first ever junior run earlier this year.

That event, which was put on hold due to the pandemic, launched on February 27 and now takes place every Sunday at 9am.

Full details can be seen here: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/stmarys/