A new race for Hale Village has been announced following the cancellation of the popular Runcorn Bridge run.

The BTR Hale Village 5 Mile run will take place on Easter Sunday (5 April), starting at 9.30am in Hale Park, where it will also finish. It is expected that approximately 750 runners will take part.

The established and popular point-to-point Run The Bridge 5-mile event is unable to go ahead this year due to ongoing work to develop the new Mersey Gateway crossing.

The cancellation was met with considerable disappointment from the Merseyside and North West running communities. Run The Bridge had taken place for 15 consecutive years and was enjoyed by runners of all abilities.

Given its standing in the race calendar and growing popularity, organisers Halton Council felt it was important to find an alternative that would continue to showcase picturesque Hale Village.

This prompted discussions between BTR Liverpool and Halton Borough Council, which has created the new BTR Hale Village 5 Mile race round a similar route to the old Hale 5-Mile Road Race.

The proposed loop course will start in Hale Park, taking in Cocklade Lane, Pepper Street, Town Lane, Hale Gate Road, Halebank Road, Higher Road, Ramsbrook Lane and High Street, before returning to Hale Park.

The new event will bring back memories for seasoned runners as the course takes a similar route as the old Hale 5-Mile Road Race staged in the 1980s and 1990s.

BTR Liverpool is the leading independent organisation for creating, managing and delivering headline race events in Liverpool City Region. Its portfolio of nine other race events includes the Liverpool Santa Dash, Liverpool and Wirral Half Marathons, and Port Sunlight and Mersey Tunnel 10Ks.

BTR already has experience of managing events in Hale Village. The team already host a similar 5-mile race in July as part of the innovative 52-mile Tour Of Merseyside, which sees runners complete six races of various distances over seven days.

BTR Race Director Alan Rothwell said:

“Over the past 15 years, the Easter Sunday run in Hale has very much become a firm fixture in the Merseyside and North West race calendars. Together with Halton Council, we are delighted that we can continue this tradition and develop a new event.

“I remember the original Hale 5-Mile Road Race event very well, having ran in it myself numerous times. The new event will feature a familiar course that some may remember, but we’re very much looking forward to introducing others to the very scenic Hale Village.”

Bill Smith, Chairman for Halton Road Race Committee, added:

“It was with great sadness we had to cancel the popular Run The Bridge 5-mile race from Runcorn to Hale due to the ongoing road works for the new Mersey Gateway. This situation is likely to continue for at least the next three years, after which we hope to be able to bring the event back onto the road race calendar. Until then, we as a committee wish BTR the best of luck with the revival of the Hale 5 race on Easter Sunday and look forward to welcoming the road race fraternity back to the Bridge Race in the future.”

BTR will implement a structured traffic management plan to ensure there is minimal inconvenience for Hale Village residents.

Participants will not be allowed to park in Hale Village. They will be directed to a designated parking area to enable normal traffic movement continues up to the start of the race, and then roads reopened soon after the race finishes.

All residents will be contacted before the event to fully advise them about road closures and the day’s arrangements.

The confirmed route and details of road closures will be available from mid-March on the BTR website.

Entries are now open at www.btrliverpool.com