OVER 100 young people battled wet and windy weather to take part in a fun and sociable run around Poole Park.

The Poole Junior Parkrun, which was first held at the beginning of this month, sees children as young as four lace up their running shoes to travel a distance of 2k around the park on foot.

It has been created by mum-of-two, Jenny Trayford, with Poole Parkrun ambassador, Mike Cure, and a team of running enthusiasts as a spin-off of the main Saturday morning run for adults.

Jenny says that the town boasts the second most popular parkrun event in the UK so it made sense to allow kids to have their own dedicated run.

A total of 62 children came along in the first week, despite cold biting winds and torrential rain, 111 in the second week and 113 defeated the wet weather on Sunday, January 17.

She added: "We expect this event to become massive, with maybe 150 children. The great thing is that as a 2k distance, anyone from age four to 14 can take part."

Jenny said the Poole Junior Parkrun has been in the planning stages since April 2015, and they are glad to finally open the children's volunteer-led run.

"I have a five and seven year old and the main 5k is just a little too far to go for them, so I looked up the nearest Junior Parkrun and it was in Southampton.

"It's such a good thing. It's been really cool to get these kids running outdoors. I wonder how many people are going to want their kids to be active but they don't want to run themselves.

"It's not a race, it's just a fun run, but it's timed so your only competition is yourself."

For more information and to pre-register for the event, go to Parkrun.org.uk/poole-juniors