THE Bradford district's newest parkrun event is already helping to bring the community together, according to its boss.

The Roberts Park Parkrun in Saltaire, run by a team of volunteers, has been up and running every Saturday from 9am from the start of this month.

The race's flat course starts and ends at the main promenade of Roberts Park. It also includes taking in the Baildon Nature Trail next door before returning to the park.

The free 5km event is for people of all abilities where participants can run, jog or walk the course.

The Roberts Park event was due to get under way in 2020 but the parkrun was shut down due to the pandemic.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

It is now one of six such parkrun events held across the district each Saturday. The others take place at Bowling Park, Horton Park, Lister Park, Myrtle Park and Cliffe Castle. Roberts Park and Riverside Gardens in Ilkley also each stage weekly Junior Parkrun events.

Sam Swift, Roberts Park Parkrun event director, says there was a gap for the Saltaire event in the district, between those run at Lister Park in Manningham and Myrtle Park in Bingley.

She added last Saturday's event attracted 255 participants, 14 of them had never taken part in a Parkrun before.

She said: "We had people from all over last weekend. Even some from down south. People would do owt for a flat parkrun.

"I do think it's proving popular because it's flat and it's new.

"It is one of the flattest parkrun courses in Yorkshire. It's a really nice route.

"We're a route that is not just in the park. Someone described it as tranquil and they found it quite peaceful.

"The route covers the top and bottom of the park. That means there is no lapping.

"It helps to bring people to Saltaire. People come out of their homes in Saltaire to come down and talk to us. People who live in the community.

There was a big gap of parkruns between Lister Park and Myrtle Park in Bingley

"It's a brilliant community run and everyone is so friendly. You will have the parkrun addiction once you've done it once."

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

The Roberts Park event also successfully applied for funding from the Bradford Care Alliance to help set up the run to help boost participant's mental health.

The parkrun events resumed across the UK in July this year having been further delayed this summer due to issues in getting permission for events to resume from landowners.

Roberts Park Parkrun is entirely organised by volunteers. Email robertspark@parkrun.com for more information or to help.

Go to parkrun.org.uk/register to sign up to take part. Participants must also bring a printed copy of their barcode to each week's run. They will not receive their race times if they forget to bring it.