A popular Race for Life event in Dorchester that has been running since 2003 has been cancelled.

Organisers of the Kingston Maurward Race for Life said that the decision was made due to declining numbers and that they believe people are willing to travel further to take part in the Cancer Research fundraisers.

In 2014, 1,803 people took part in the Dorchester event, raising £86,796 for Cancer Research UK.

However, the figures last year showed that around 750 people took part at Kingston Mauward and raised around £31,000.

Karina Morgan, Cancer Research UK National Event Manager in the South West, said: “We regularly review our Race for Life events and ask supporters for their opinions. We owe it to our participants to ensure that we raise as much money in the most efficient way possible.

“This year the decision has been made to cancel the Kingston Maurward event following a significant fall in participant numbers in recent years.

“Our recent research shows that people are willing to travel to a Race for Life event and so, for 2019, we are asking them to join another local Race for Life and help us save money on event costs.

“We are enormously grateful to everyone who has taken part in Race for Life at Kingston Maurward and we hope they will continue to fund our life-saving research by participating in one of our other nearby events in Poole or Yeovil this summer.”

Kingston Maurward’s Principal, Luke Rake, said: “Kingston Maurward has hosted a number of charity events over many years, and it’s sad to see Race for Life move on, we have enjoyed hosting them.

“We are continuing to develop the range of estate activities this year, including the return of the Dorset Knob Throwing Festival to support Cattistock, the revival of Music by the Lake with Weldmar Hospice and Dorchester Half Marathon on May 19 with Dorchester Casterbridge Rotary.”

Other Race for Life events in Dorset are taking place in Bournemouth and Poole, with another event being held in nearby Yeovil.

The events are:

The seafront, Bournemouth, on Sunday, June 9 (5k and 10k distances)

Baiter Park, Poole on Saturday, June 15 (5k Pretty Muddy event, which is a muddy obstacle course)

Baiter Park, Poole on Sunday, June 16 (5k and 10k distances)

Yeovil College, Yeovil on Sunday, June 16 (5k distance)

For more information about the Race for Life events, and how to enter, visit their website.