Two Cumbrian parkruns are marking milestones this weekend - as doctors are encouraged to prescribe that patients take part in them across the country.

Workington parkrun is celebrating its fifth birthday tomorrow morning having recently held its 250th event.

A spokesman for Workington parkrun said: "The core volunteer team is incredibly proud of the way Workington parkrun has developed, where the numbers now rarely dip below 120 participants and frequently show up in the 150 range."

The course was altered when Workington's new leisure centre opened, switching from Moorclose sports centre.

On Sunday Carlisle junior parkrun, in Bitts Park at 9am, will be two years old. Since it started, 854 youngsters have signed up.

There are currently 535 parkruns across the UK, and many more across the world.

They are free, timed 5k events which take place every Saturday at 9am in public parks and green spaces and are run by volunteers. People choose to walk, jog or run.

There are also 220 2k junior parkruns for 4-14 year-olds and their families on Sunday mornings.

The celebrations come as GP practices are encouraged to become certified "parkrun practices", with healthcare practitioners signposting patients and carers to events.

Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs, said: "Small, often simple, lifestyle changes can have a really positive impact on our health and well-being, so anything that encourages patients to live better and move more is a good thing."

Two weeks ago, sparked by an idea borne in Carlisle, 146,000 people took part in 'parkrun for the NHS' up and down the country to mark the 70th anniversary of the health service.

Read more about it here

* To take part in your local parkrun, register online to get your barcode (needed to get a time) at http://www.parkrun.org.uk/