A FREE running event for primary school children is coming to Salisbury for the first time.

'GO Run For Fun', an initiative for children aged five to 11, has announced that it will deliver a 2k run for primary school children in Salisbury.

Organisers say they hope to help uplift the city after "recent unfortunate events".

The run will take place on Monday, October 15, at South Wilts Grammar School Athletics Track and Five Rivers Leisure Centre adjoining field.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Salisbury will be present at the opening of the run.

HM Lord- Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Mrs Sarah Rose Troughton CStJ, has offered her support to the event: “I am delighted to send my best wishes and lots of luck to all the children who are running the GO Run For Fun event.

"What a great idea and you will feel so well, and so fit and energetic at the end of the course. I salute you all.”

With over 260,000 pupils taking part in 2km events in the UK, Europe and USA, the campaign aims to get 280,000 children running by the end of 2018.

All the events are free and all children will receive a free GO Run For Fun t-shirt, to wear for their run.

There will be music and a warm up led by the GO Run For Fun team.

Children are congratulated at the finish line with a high-five from the mascot, Dart!

The programme is supported by INEOS, a multinational company headquartered in London, with health and fitness at the heart of its ethos.

INEOS Chairman, Jim Ratcliffe, is deeply passionate about running. He said: “It has never been more important to support young people in leading healthier, more active lives.”

“GO Run for Fun and The Daily Mile have been making a positive impact on the health and well-being of hundreds of thousands of children in the UK and beyond for the last four years. We are very proud to support these two initiatives and everyone who runs in them.”

To find out more about GO Run For Fun, visit www.gorunforfun.com or stay up to date on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.