LYDNEY parkrun welcomed 110 runners, joggers and walkers for its 496th event on Saturday, with visitors and local athletes taking on the popular five-kilometre course.

Tom Watkins of Bristol and West AC led the field home in 18 minutes 58 seconds, seven seconds ahead of Dylan Roberts, who crossed the line in 19.05.

Forest of Dean AC runner Steven Harris completed the top three in 19.08, while clubmate Walter Leach was also among the leading finishers, recording 21.56.

Mia Haeffner of Chepstow Harriers was the first female finisher, crossing the line in 20.54 to take 11th place overall. Grace Johnson followed in 22.01, with Gloucester Athletic Club youngster Bethany Harris finishing in 23.30.

There was plenty to celebrate throughout the field, with 13 participants recording new personal bests during the morning.

The event also attracted 30 people taking part at Lydney for the first time, while representatives from 13 different running clubs were among those completing the course.

A team of 24 volunteers helped make the latest event possible, carrying out the range of roles required to safely stage the weekly run.

Lydney parkrun has now been running for more than a decade after its first event was held on January 2, 2016.

Since then, 9,014 different participants have completed a combined 45,852 parkruns at Lydney, covering a remarkable total distance of 229,260 kilometres.

Those taking part have recorded 5,995 new personal bests over the event’s history.

Volunteers have also played a major part in the parkrun’s success, with 735 different people having volunteered on a combined 9,091 occasions since the event began.

The free weekly event continues to welcome runners, joggers and walkers of different ages and abilities each Saturday morning.

The next staging will take Lydney another step closer to its landmark 500th event later this autumn locally.