PARKRUN events have been cancelled until the end of the month, at the earliest.

The free, timed 5km run usually takes place at 9am every Saturday morning and north Essex runners flock to events in Colchester's Castle Park, Highwoods Country Park, Mersea Island, Clacton seafront, Harwich's Cliff Park, Maldon Promenade Park and Great Notley Country Park.

Other parkruns in Essex include Riverside Country Park, in Burnham-on-Crouch, Northlands Park, in Basildon, Central Park, in Chelmsford, Hadleigh Country Park, Harlow Town Park, Hockley Woods, Gunners Park, in Shoebury, and Marsh Farm Country Park, in South Woodham Ferrers.

However, none will be going ahead for the next two weekends, at least, due to coronavirus pandemic.

Parkrun HQ issued an update on Wednesday morning to say that following government advice and public health guidelines, they are suspending events across the UK from this weekend until at least the end of March.

With this latest announcement, parkrun is now closed in every territory around the world until further notice.

Other cancelled runs include those in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Eswatini, Finland, France, Germany, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden and the USA.