Travellers descend on local park as much-loved community event cancelled after overnight encampment

A source told GB News that travellers moved into the local park overnight.

They added: "When this was discovered by the core team of volunteers early this morning, a decision was made to cancel due to safety concerns."

The keen runner highlighted that decisions are never taken lightly, but the safety of runners is paramount.

They added: "The course goes around the field where the travellers are and there is always the risk of moving cars and caravans at any time during the event.""

"All parkruns are run by volunteers who give up a lot of free time to put on the event so that hundreds of us can take part for free.

In an update posted on social media, Bournemouth Parkrun said: “Unfortunately due to an illegal encampment on the course we have to cancel this morning’s parkrun.”

A 26-year-old regular participant told the People Channel that the event helps bring the community together.

He said: “It’s a shame to see the park run cancelled. We do it every week to start of our weekend and it’s a great way for the community to come together and stay healthy.”

Participants were advised to attend other parkrun events near the Bournemouth area, such as Poole, Moors Valley, Upton House and Blandford.

The community event sees participants run next to the AFC Bournemouth's Vitality Stadium and is a short walk from a local primary school.

The UK hosts 866 weekly events and is closing in on its 320,000th parkrun with over 3.7 million crossing the finish line thanks to nearly 500,000 volunteers.

Scotland’s green spaces play host to 72 park runs, the first of which was brought about by Richard Leyton in Glasgow’s Pollok Park in 2008.

GB News has approached Parkrun organisers and the local MP for a comment.