A RUNNING group took part in a special event to help the community.

Halstead Road Runners combined their love with athletics and desire to help the community as they enjoyed a food bank run.

Created off the back of a run started several years ago by Hampshire-based running club, Fareham Running Club, it is now being encouraged across the UK.

More than 500 running clubs and parkruns have signed up and have been doing their bit over the month.

The number of people using foodbanks has now reached 2.1 million in the UK, up from just 1.6 million five years ago, according to figures from the Trussell Trust.

Running clubs up and down the country have been taking part in foodbank runs in February due to it being a key time of the year where families are typically hit the hardest.

The foodbank run was set up by a fellow Halstead runner to give back to the community, with plenty of the running club also joining in.

On the day, the Halstead Road Runners met at the town clubhouse, collecting all donations into a car before heading to St Andrew's Church.

They were met by a church representative alongside volunteers from the Trussell Trust.

Items donated included foods like pasta, cereals and soup cans, with cartons of milk and orange juice also handed over.

The runners then enjoyed a loop around the town to top the day off.