Coronavirus: Run Wigan Festival CANCELLED due to Covid-19

Thousands of people were due to descend on Wigan town centre on Sunday to run either a half marathon, 10-miler, 5k or family mile.

But organising charity Joining Jack announced on Monday morning that the event would no longer take place.

Race director Matt Johnson said: "It is with huge regret that we have taken the decision to cancel the 2020 HW Moon Toyota Wigan Run Wigan Festival. As a charity and as event organisers we are absolutely heartbroken.

"We have been closely monitoring reports and advice from local and national governing bodies and UK Athletics and have also been taking guidance from our traffic management and safety advisory teams and the charity’s trustees over the past few weeks with regards to Covid-19 coronavirus, and feel we have now been left with no other choice.

"As a charity and as an event organiser, we have a duty of care to our runners, volunteers, sponsors, partners and supporters. As it stands therefore, without clear guidelines from the Government, we feel we can no longer ensure this by allowing the event to go ahead.

"Like all of you, we will be following the events and announcements from today’s emergency COBRA meeting and, following that, we will discuss all options available to us to move forward in the best and fairest way possible to protect our event, the charity, our partners and suppliers, sponsors and, most importantly, all of you as runners and supporters.

"We will wait on clear instruction from the Government before issuing any further statements.

"We have also taken the decision not to respond to emails or social media messages until that point, we hope you understand.

"We want to take this opportunity to apologise to and thank all our amazing runners and supporters. Please bear with us."

Organisers of many other races also announced at the weekend that they were cancelling or postponing their events, including London and Greater Manchester marathons.