A GROUP of Barrow runners are set to pay tribute to a ‘legendary’ member of the running community.

Walney Wind Cheetahs, Barrow parkrun and other various local running clubs will give their own personal send off to Barrow ‘legend’ and former nuclear physicist Gillian Thompson who died earlier this month.

The 79-year-old, who was one of the first female nuclear engineers to work at Barrow shipyard, was a keen member of the local running scene, completing her 250th Barrow Parkrun in July.

To mark her love of the sport, a number of her running comrades will hold their own personal send off before the funeral.

Chair of Walney Wind Cheetahs running club and long-time friend, Ian Jones, hopes the event will give ‘every person the opportunity to say their goodbyes’.

“Gill was such a popular and well-loved person in the community, we weren’t sure whether to expect 200 or 2,000 people at the funeral,” Mr Jones said.

“So we thought we’d give everyone in the running community the chance to give their own personal send off for Gill by meeting before the funeral and making our way to the church in our Walney Wind Cheetahs kit or any other respective clubs.

“This way everyone in the running community can have their own personal send off to Gill, who was so big in the local running community.”

Mr Jones described running as ‘hugely important’ to Gill in her life.

“Running was Gill’s whole life," she said. "Even in her last few years she still showed up every week and took part.

“She really did touch the hearts of a lot of people in the community, both young and old.”

A number of runners from the Walney Wind Cheetahs will be unable to attend the funeral due to an overseas trip.

However, the team will be hosting their very own running send off Tenerife.

The running tribute will be held at 11.15am on Wednesday at the Bandstand in Barrow.

The funeral will take place on the same day at noon at Dalkeith Street Chapel.