A POPULAR Wirral running club and its creator have won two prestigious national awards.

Run In Wirral was declared 'Group of the Year' by Run England, the national body for recreational athletics. Its founder, Fiona Hanik earned the accolade 'Run England Leader'.

The project was also runner up in the 'Participation Project of the Year' category.

Established in 2010, it has developed into a hugely popular project with 15 running groups currently pounding pavements across the borough on every night of the week.

It is for runners of all abilities who want to relieve stress, lose weight, improve their general fitness or just meet new friends.

Teams are based in locations including West Kirby Concourse, Birkenhead Sixth Form College, Birkenhead Park, The Oval, Bebington, Wirral Tennis Centre, Bidston and Frankby.

Praising the group's awards success, Cllr Chris Meaden, cabinet member for leisure, sport and culture said: "Run In Wirral groups are a familiar sight across the borough, with volunteers helping hundreds of people to get fit and to achieve their own personal goals in a friendly, supportive way.

"Fiona Hanik has dedicated a great deal of time to making Run In Wirral the ‘run away’ success that it is.

“Run in Wirral is a great example of how working in partnership with volunteers and national bodies like Run England can help residents live healthier lives, one of the key pledges in our vision for 2020.”

To find out more about local running groups and Run In Wirral, visit www.wirral.gov.uk and search for 'Run In Wirral'.