A NEW free fitness activity for children aged four to 14 has been launched in Winchester.

The inaugural Winchester junior park run took place earlier this month with 116 children tackling the two-kilometre run, which was started by city mayor Jane Rutter.

The run will now take place every Sunday at 9am at Garrison Ground on Milland Road at Highcliffe.

The junior park run is organised and part-funded by Winchester City Council, the University of Winchester and Sport Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and relies on volunteers from Winchester and District Athletics Club. It is also supported by the Sport and Physical Activity Alliance.

The event aims to get more young children taking part in regular sport and physical activity. The aim is to have fun, regardless of an individual’s pace.

Peter Leamore, chairman of the Sport and Physical Activity Alliance, said: “The fact that children as young as four years old have the opportunity to take part in a weekly activity is fantastic. A big thank you must go to the volunteers who put in all the hard work to make each week a success.”

Paul Cox, the event’s director, added: “It was fantastic to experience the start of the Winchester junior park run. I hope that the event encourages more children to take part in running and enjoy the experience.”

James Saunders, a park run ambassador, said: “I’m confident that the event will go from strength to strength in the coming weeks and months and help encourage children in the area to get active on a regular basis at a great, free and fun event.”