IT proved to be a success when the first junior Newport parkrun was held yesterday morning – with the turnout being double of what was expected.

Members of the Lliswerry Runners club were expecting about 50 children between four and 14 to take part in the race held in the grounds of Tredegar House.

But they were taken aback when more than 110 turned up with their parents.

The junior run will be held every week at 11am every Sunday from now on.

The 2km event is the children’s version of the adult 5km parkrun that takes place at the same place at 9am every Saturday.

One of the event coordinators, Hayley Edwards, 29, of Armstrong Close, took up running in November 2012 when she was overweight.

Since she started exercising more frequently, the nursery nurse has completed the Cardiff and Newport half-marathons and has lost 3st 10lb.

She took her daughter and keen runner, Amelia, six, to the event.

She said: “It went very well. Obviously it’s good for the parents as well and they’re meeting new people.

“There were more of the elite children who were 12 or 13 there and they came first, second and third.”

Sam Griffiths, who runs for Newport Harriers, finished the 2km course in 6min 50sec.