A PARKRUN director has said she is looking forward to the eventual return of the Ambleside run after national land disputes resulted in the country-wide event’s postponement.

Despite 250 Parkrun events having the go-ahead from landowners, the overarching organisation decided to push back the event’s return completely by three weeks, from June 5 to June 26.

The Saturday morning runs, which attract thousands of runners each weekend, had been given permission to restart from all councils in Cumbria.

Ursula Brendling, a co-director of Ambleside’s Rothay Park Parkrun, said that although disappointing the delay had ‘saved’ the group, as the extension of a car park in the town would have prevented their access to the park.

"We've got to be positive," she said.

"It will restart, it's just a shame it won't start on the 5th June.

"We couldn't go ahead anyway.

"There's a new car park extension being done in Ambleside so until that's completed, we can't go ahead."

Ms Brendling said the Rothay Park run will return with a brand-new route.

"It's disappointing but for Rothay Park, which is a really beautiful Parkrun, it's really exciting that we'll be able to restart with a new route at the end of June,” she said.

“From a community point of view after the pandemic it’s key they come back.

“It will be a massive thing for the community and for people getting back into fitness.

“It’s so inclusive.”

Other Parkruns in South Lakeland include Fell Foot and Ford Park in Ulverston.

Speaking on the Parkrun blog, Nick Pearson, parkrun Global CEO, said: “We will continue to work hard with landowners over the coming weeks to secure the permissions needed to return at the end of June.

“We are incredibly grateful to all of the landowners who have granted events permission to return so far, and for the groundswell of support for parkrun over recent days.”

To find out more about any park running events in the county you can visit www.parkrun.org.uk