YOUNG athletes and their families have finally been able to reunite for a beloved communal run in the park.

Florence Park’s junior parkrunners were able to meet on Sunday for the first time since March last year.

Parkrun is a free, weekly, volunteer-run physical activity event that takes place in hundreds of local parks across the UK and worldwide.

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This weekend the group saw 56 happy faces take to the park to walk, jog or run with the help of 22 volunteers.

Children aged from four to ten can join 2km runs, while all ages are invited to join the longer 5km run.

Co-director Amy O’hanlon said: “It’s been such a wonderful morning and we feel really lucky to be back.

“The pandemic has had a big impact on children’s physical and mental health, so we’re delighted that grassroots sports events like ours have been able to return.

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“We’re operating under Parkrun’s Covid-19 framework, so we’ve made a few changes to how we run the event, but the ethos remains unchanged: free, sustainable, outdoor physical activity for everyone.”

The Florence Park Parkrun launched in December 2019, becoming the second junior event in Oxford.

Just 12 weeks after launching, however, the pandemic halted the event that was already attracting 80 children each week.

Mrs O’hanlon added: “From the smiles on the children’s faces this morning, it’s clear how much they’ve missed Parkrun too.

"Their joy is contagious – it’s what makes junior Parkrun so special.”

For details visit parkrun.org.uk