Organiser Heather Hunter said she hoped it would take off when she started the park run a year ago.

“I’m pretty happy to see the way it’s progressed and still going strong,” she said. “I’ve only received positive feedback.”

Mrs Hunter said people found it was a great way to start the weekend, by running or walking 5km along the Peel River track and through Bicentennial Park and back.

“It’s something you can do with the family, free of charge and, because it’s timed, you can see your own improvement and you’re only racing against yourself,” she said.

“For the first birthday, a lot of people wore football colours, we had a couple of boxing people and a little Spider- Man. We had just under 120 people who did the walk/run, plus the 13 or so volunteers that make it run each week. We had a lot of regulars, as well as visitors from Newcastle and Queensland.”

Mrs Hunter said park runs were now in 11 countries throughout the world and this coming weekend is International Parkrun Day marking 11 years since it started in the UK.

The park run starts near Paradise Tourist Park on Peel St each Saturday at 8am.