AFTER attracting 3,500 runners and raising more than £25,000 for local charities since 2017, this year's Dorchester Half Marathon has been cancelled.

The Dorchester Half Marathon was supposed to return for a third year on May 19 but event organisers Just Racing UK have now informed the participants that it has been cancelled.

With just three months to go until the event, runners who had already entered received an email from Just Racing UK telling them the race would not be going ahead, citing a lack of participants as their reason for this decision.

It read: "With just three months to go to the Dorchester Half Marathon, we have taken the very difficult decision to cancel this year's event.

"Despite our best marketing and promotional efforts, entries have been lower than predicted and with just three months to go, we are unable to continue with what we hoped would be a fantastic closed road half marathon event."

They went on to confirm that runners would be given a full refund.

The Echo reported in October that the event had been saved by Just Racing UK, the organisation behind Ironman Weymouth.

The event was at risk of cancellation after White Star Running withdrew from the partnership with Dorchester Casterbridge Rotary after two years.

John Adams from Dorchester Rotary wrote a letter to local businesses, organisations and residents, in which he said: "The Half Marathon was advertised and launched by Just Racing in October 2018, but unfortunately has not attracted sufficient runners to make it financially viable.

"Casterbridge Rotary are obviously disappointed that the 1000-plus runners anticipated by Just Racing in line with their Weymouth Half Marathon have not materialised, leading to Just Racing cancelling the event. There is clearly insufficient time to launch a new event for 2019.

"Casterbridge Rotary is obviously disappointed that there will be no event this year and are most grateful for your valued help and support, without which our two great sporting events would not have been possible.

"Whilst there will be no Dorchester Marathon in 2019, rest assured that Casterbridge Rotary will continue to be busy with all its other activities in the coming year, all aimed at making a positive difference to the lives of those living in our local community and further afield."