WORK off your festive excess by lacing up your running shoes and taking part in the inaugural Northwich Boxing Day 5k.

There’s still time to join fellow runners at Ashton and Neumann’s flashes, off Marbury Road, on December 26 for this new event organised by Run Cheshire.

Michael Harrington, race director, said: “We are looking forward to hosting this race and the people of Northwich have been really supportive with only a few places left”

The race will be chip-timed and all finishers will receive a festive medal and finish line goodies. It has been planned as a warm-up to two races taking place in conjunction with Cheshire Down Syndrome Support Group next June and July.

Michael added: “We are hosting a series of 5k races on the same course in the summer with two graded races which means runners can enter according to their predicted 5k time.

“We’re expecting some fast times in the summer but for our Boxing Day race the focus is more on having some festive fun.

"We are also conscious that at this time of year some people are perhaps a bit isolated and if anybody would like to come along to help handing out medals at the finish line or cheering runners on, we would love to hear from them.”

To find out how you can get involved and for more race information visit runcheshire.com