A TEAM of trained volunteers is helping aspiring runners go from 0 to 5k in just ten weeks.

Designed in partnership with I Will If You Will (IWIYW), the Bury-based fitness campaign, the eight running programmes are split across all six townships of Bury to reach as many people as possible over the coming months.

The first running group at Nuttall Park had more than 26 attendees taking up the running challenge for 2017, and organisers are hopeful for similar numbers at subsequent meetings.

Councillor Catherine Preston, deputy cabinet member for health and wellbeing at Bury Council, said it was a fantastic initiative which would appeal to many.

She said: “As someone who loves running and who really enjoyed the Bury 10k last year, I think this is a fantastic initiative to help people start running and build up their fitness.

“The running programme is ten weeks of completely free coaching from trained run leaders, plus you’ll be exploring some of Bury’s finest green spaces at the same time.”

Maria Cranston, active travel officer for Bury Sport and Physical Activity Service, said: “We’ve designed the 0-5k running programme in a staggered way so that people can prepare themselves for taking on the ten weeks at a time and location that suits them.

“It’s a great foundation to start training for the Bury 10k in September alongside like-minded people who range from complete beginners to runners looking to improve.

“We were thrilled with the turnout at the first running group at Nuttall Park and hope that, once word gets around, we’ll see similar attendances at the others.”

The ten-week running groups are at: Nuttall Park, Ramsbottom – Mondays at noon (already launched); Clarence Park, Bury – Wednesdays at 1pm (started yesterday); Burrs Country Park, Bury – Saturdays at 4pm (starts February 25); Philips Park, Whitefield – Sundays at 11am (starts March 12); Prestwich Clough – Sundays at 11am (starts March 26); Burrs Country Park, Bury – Thursdays at 7pm (starts April 13); Nuttall Park, Ramsbottom – Fridays at 7pm (starts April 21); Close Park, Radcliffe – Tuesdays at 7pm (starts May 2).

For more information about the running programme and to book a place, call Maria Cranston on 0161 253 6396 or email m.cranston@bury.gov.uk