POPULAR parkrun is set for a summer return.

After the Government's roadmap was released, the charity behind the event has shared its plans for the restart of junior and 5k parkrun sessions.

Junior parkruns are expected to be able to return from Sunday, April 11 while all 5k parkruns will resume on Saturday, June 5, having been suspended since March last year.

In a statement, chief executive officer of parkrun Nick Pearson said: "Whilst we’re pretty experienced in starting and supporting the delivery of free, weekly, timed, 5k and 2k events around the world, this project entails reopening almost 900 different events, impacting over three-million registered parkrunners. We’ve never done that in 14 weeks before, and will be learning as we go, so please do be patient.

"Bringing back parkrun events is a huge step for so many of us toward the return of normal life.

"Of course nothing is guaranteed and there is still, understandably, some uncertainty and trepidation within the community. But working towards these dates gives us all hope. Parkrun will be back."

The junior parkrun series will initially only be open to children aged 4-10.

Park run sessions are popular in Hexham and Prudhoe and organisers are 'cautiously' reintroducing events.