A council leader has waded in over the battle to get parkruns going again by sticking up for the volunteers behind them.

The leader of Tonbridge and Malling council Nicolas Heslop, has written to Robert Jenrick, the housing and communities secretary.

Earlier this week there was criticism from a government minister, Oliver Dowden, who observed that although Parkrun events had been given permission to resume from March 29, but none had done so.

The Parkrun organisers themselves had set the target date of June 5 to resume their 5km circuits.

But after it was reported that only 231 of the 589 scheduled events had secured permission from their councils or landowners to go ahead, that has now been delayed until June 26.

Normally there are two Parkrun events in Tonbridge and Malling and Cllr Heslop is a keen participant.

But he has written to Mr Jenrick saying: "Please bear in mind that Parkruns depend upon the significant injection of local volunteers, who give up their own time to support those of us who benefit from the experience.

"I have been a regular at the Tonbridge Parkrun since its launch and hold the local volunteers who deliver this most valuable opportunity in the highest regard."

Cllr Heslop said: "We have two 5km Parkruns in Tonbridge at the Racecourse Sportsground and in Malling at Leyboure Lakes Country Park, both on council-owned land, which the council has encouraged and supported.

"The one at Leybourne Lakes was regularly attracting an average of 1,000 participants every Saturday morning.

"We also benefit from two junior Parkruns - in Tonbridge and West Malling."

Cllr Heslop continued: "I am desperate to see the Parkruns return.

"However, these events depend upon the will of local volunteers to deliver them.

"Imagine the challenge for volunteers in ensuring social distancing before June 21 (The government's planned date to lift all restrictions).

"In Tonbridge, our average weekly attendance was 700 folk turning up, then lining up for the run, completing their 5K, mostly between 15 mins and 50 mins, queuing in a funnel to receive their race number, then queuing up to have their time recorded through a barcode.

"Social distancing is not going to be ensured in these circumstances, and indeed, the health of volunteers is potentially placed at risk.

"The situation is complex and I’m sorry that headline soundbites from Whitehall are not at all helpful.

"We will support the return of our 5km parkruns from June 26, subject to government guidance at the time."

However, permission has been granted for an earlier return of the Tonbridge Junior Parkrun, which is likely to re-start on June 6.

Read more: All the latest news from Malling

Read more: All the latest news from Tonbridge