ORGANISERS of Bournemouth’s Race for Life have insisted there was no option but to cancel Sunday’s 10k event.

Meanwhile, they are issuing a final plea to women to sign up to this coming Sunday’s event in Poole.

High winds blew more than 2ft of sand onto Bournemouth prom on Saturday and it was impossible to clear it in time for the scheduled 11am start, organisers said.

The other elements of Race For Life went ahead, with many 10k runners doing the 5k instead to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

View all our pictures from the Bournemouth 5k races

Organiser Rachel White priased the work of Bournemouth council staff, who were on the scene from 4am to prepare the 5k route.

“We made the decision along with the council and the seafront team. It was a decision between all of us for the safety of the participants,” she said.

“The council did the absolute best job they could and it was a decision about what was best for the participants. It was by no means safe to allow them on the 10k course.”

She said she had seen the sand drifts for herself that morning. “It was 2ft deep,” she said.

“I was amazed by what it looked like and I knew it wasn’t safe.

“I’ve never cancelled an event before. It’s never a decision we would take lightly.”

She added: “If they had even attempted to clear the 10k route, then the 5k route would have been impossible.”

She said many 10k entrants had taken part in the shorter event instead, while others were being encouraged to join events in Southampton on July 8 or Portsmouth on July 22.

Chris Saunders, Bournemouth council’s seafront development manager, said: “The strong winds caused hundreds of tonnes of sand to be blown onto the prom, making it near impassable in places.

“The beach cleansing team worked tirelessly to successfully clear the sand for the 5k route.”

Among the 10k runners who hastily re-arranged to run the 5k were Daily Echo advertising staff Annette Geyser, Donna Garner, Nikki Enock and Jane Toomer, who raised £520 in tribute to their late colleague Julie Ritchie Evans. Annette said she heard about the cancellation late on Saturday night through the Echo’s Twitter feed.

There are still places in the afternoon 5k event at Poole Park this Sunday, June 24, with entry closing on Thursday.

Entrants can walk, jog or run. Sign up by visiting raceforlife.org or by calling 08716 411111.