A team of fun runners had plenty of community spirit when they took part in races to help fund a place for their new church group to meet.

Run 4 the Bus was organised by Ebbsfleet-based Castle Hill New Church Group to raise money for a mobile community space.

Thirteen runners took part in 2.5km, 5km or 10km races at Gravesend’s Cyclopark, with the youngest, Ruth Dalton, just six.

The housing development at Castle Hill, part of Ebbsfleet Garden City, is expected to have a purpose-built community centre next year, but the church group wants to find a temporary base and has earmarked either a bus or portable cabin.

The Rev Penny Marsh said: “We are a new group who have been meeting for over a year and organising some events in Castle Hill. We had a really successful community event at Easter and are planning to build on this with a further event in June.

“We are, however, finding it difficult to get to know the new residents without a base in Castle Hill.

“There will be a community centre built, but it won’t be ready until autumn 2017 at the earliest. Therefore, we are exploring options for an interim, flexible space.

“We have seen a vehicle which could be creatively adapted for use as a mobile community space, and we are now raising the funds for this.

“At the moment we are not sure which option will work out, but all the money raised through the run will be used to provide and furnish a comfortable, flexible space that we and the new community can use.”

The races raised more than £1,500 for the cause, which will be added to the £7,000 already amassed, and runners were presented with T-shirts for their efforts.