HUNDREDS of people put their best foot forward to get more active in 2019 by taking part in the ‘Couch to 5k’ at Blackburn's Witton Park on Saturday morning.

The volunteer-run event has been running for five years and organisers say thousands of people have made the first steps to a healthier lifestyle by taking part in the initiative.

The plan is designed to get participants off the couch and gradually work you up to running 5K or for half an hour, in just nine weeks.

One of the organisers John Clucas was delighted with the turnout on Saturday, with seven groups of 15 running the course. A separate power walking group of 15 who also took part.

Mr Clucas said: “It is great to see people of different ages and abilities taking part including kids and dogs.

“You hear all the time about obesity rates but we think this is helping people get fitter.

“We have had people who have started new to running and then gone on to do marathons.

“It has helped people with mental health problems and even people with diabetes have come off their medication after doing the runs.

We are also encouraging people to make friends.”

Lisa Gallagher,42, from Blackburn, ran the course with her son Jack Willacy, age 10.

She said: “I have done the event before and it is great.

“They give you something you can achieve.”

Meanwhile Julie Carbine, 60, who took on the 5k challenge with her dog Blue, said: “I was one of the original people who took part in the event here at Witton.

“But then it went away and now that it has come back I am doing it again.

“It is right on my doorstep.

“It is amazing to see so many people here and fantastic they are getting out of their beds and out here in the cold.

"They are showing great determination to take part.”

Kate Hargreaves took part alongside her sons Ted, eight, and Max, six.

She said:”It is absolutely amazing and great to be part of a community of people who want to get fit. It also been good to do it as a family too.”