Parkrunners will no longer be able to leave their cars at a football club after it withdrew support.

Those who participate in Dereham's Parkrun on Saturday mornings will have to leave cars elsewhere and not use toilet or café facilities at Aldiss Park. 

The football club said the decision "had not been made lightly" but it could no longer "bear the financial and operational burdens that have accumulated over time."

Parkrun launched in the town in July of this year and has had nearly 2000 people participate in the 5k run around Dereham's Neatherd Moor.

Many runners would park at the football club on Norwich Road before walking to their assembly point near Silver Birch Road.

The news means that participants will need to park elsewhere.

Organisers said they were "incredibly disappointed" at the club's decision.

A spokesman for the Dereham Parkrun said: "We understand the club have decided they will no longer offer any facilities to our runners given they are experiencing a period of instability.

"We appreciate the help they have given us and our volunteers are determined to be positive and make sure the weekly event will continue."

Breckland councillor for Neatherd ward, Alison Webb, was "disappointed" by the news.

She said: "I have encouraged the club to consider other funding opportunities, which may be available to help make things possible in the future."

The football club announced it would not be supporting the town's Parkrun event anymore.The football club announced it would not be supporting the town's Parkrun event anymore. (Image: Ian Burt) The club said not enough people visited the café after their race, which it originally thought would be a financial incentive to lend its support. 

When conveying its challenges to directors of the event, the club added it had not received "meaningful collaboration, making it increasing difficult to maintain a positive and productive working relationship".

Event director Simon Carroll and volunteers at a recent Parkrun. Event director Simon Carroll and volunteers at a recent Parkrun. (Image: Dereham Parkrun) Dominiqua Martins, operations manager for the club, said: "We understand the positive impact Parkrun has within the community.

"We hope that the Parkrun team will take this as an opportunity to reassess their approach and foster more constructive relationships with local partners in the future."