A COMPANY has defended its decision not to provide water for the Sheffield Half Marathon causing the event to be cancelled.

The race, on Sunday, was scrapped at the last minute because water for the runners did not arrive.

The 4,100 runners were already at the start line when the announcement was made. Some of them completed the course anyway.

Water Direct, based at Earls Cone Business Park, was asked to provide massive water tanks so organisers could fill bottles and cups.

It did not provide the water because organisers had not paid up.

Keith Silcock, managing director, said: “We refute the comments being made by the organisers that we let them down."

Read the full story in today's Gazette.