FAMILY doctors staged a ‘takeover’ at Keighley’s Parkrun to carry out health checks and encourage people to become more active.

GPs and other health professionals from across the town provided a range of services during the first Parkrun of the New Year in Cliffe Castle Park.

The Keighley Parkrun is held every Saturday at 9am, the same time as hundreds of similar events across the UK, and attracts up to 150 people each week to run a set 5km course.

More than 20 GPs and staff took part. GP surgeries that took part included the North Street and Ling House practices, and the Modality Partnership practices including Holycroft, Farfield, Long Lee, Kilmeny, Haworth, Oakworth, Cross Hills, and the Fisher Practice in Skipton.

Bill Graham, Modality’s community innovation and development officer, said: “They all contributed to a fantastic community event that has health and staying healthy at the start of its mission.

“Our aim was to promote an event at the beginning of the new year to encourage people to take part and make positive steps to improve their health.”

Modality invited other local GP practices, voluntary groups and charities to take part in order to create a community atmosphere.

Modality GP partners Dr Jackie Craven and Dr Andrew Sixsmith were among staff who had turned up at 7am to set up, ready to begin health checks at 8.15am.

Bill added: “We had 308 runners of which 118 were first time runners, which is amazing –almost a 100% increase on the usual numbers.

“We offered some health checks before and after running, and some of our charity partners came with information on activities and groups around the local area. We also had some tea, coffee, juice, fruit and cake available.”

After they finished their Parkrun, runners were invited to have a drink and pick up a Modality goodie bag with health promotion leaflets from a wide range of organisations.

Dr Sixsmith said: “We saw quite a few patients running their first Parkrun– some patients said they wouldn’t have done it if the GPs were not there.”

All pictures were taken by John Ashton.