A CITY parkrun session has been cancelled after the date clashed with Worcester Balloon Festival. 

Worcester Pitchcroft parkrun had to cancel Saturday's running despite hopes it would still go ahead.

The decision was made after the team did a safety evaluation and realised the amount of traffic that would be on the route would make it too risky for it to go ahead.

Worcester Balloon Festival is set to take place tomorrow until Saturday evening.

A spokesperson for Worcester Pitchcroft parkrun said: "Worcester Pitchcroft parkrun is cancelled for this Saturday, 24 June.

"Despite positive intentions of the Balloon Festival, at a site visit this morning (Thursday), it became clear that it will not be possible to ensure a good quality and above-all safe parkrun at Worcester Pitchcroft on Saturday.

"Safety of all participants is our priority: there are too many anticipated traffic movements between 8.30am and 10.30am, involving the areas we use as park runners and volunteers for us to risk allowing our event to proceed.

"Apologies for the late volte-face.

"We were trying to exhaust all options to make our event happen, but did not succeed."

The Pitchcroft, Worcester 5k Your Way, Move Against Cancer will also not take place as a result.

A spokesperson for Worcestershire Breast Unit Haven said: "Unfortunately, the Pitchcroft, Worcester 5k Your Way, Move Against Cancer won’t be taking place this Saturday morning due to the Balloon Festival.

"If you are going to that, have fun, and Pitchcroft, Worcester 5k Your Way, Move Against Cancer resumes in July."