SPORT is rapidly grinding to a halt across the district after a raft of postponements in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Parkrun, which has regular Saturday morning 5k events in both Hexham and Prudhoe, became the latest organisation to cancel regular fixtures.

Following an announcement on Wednesday, there will be no more Parkruns until at least the end of March.

The news came hot on the heels of significant developments in terms of football, rugby and horse racing on Monday and Tuesday.

Local and regional football leagues have acted in accordance with national FA guidelines to cancel all games at grassroots level for the foreseeable future.

The Northern Alliance has called off all fixtures for this weekend and beyond.

Until the latest Football Association guidelines were issued on Monday, clubs in the Northern Alliance were allowed to choose whether or not to play.

Division Two side Haltwhistle Jubilee, who have already endured several cancellations due to adverse weather, travelled to Newcastle East End, where they won 3-0.

Hexham, who play in Division One, did not go ahead with their home match against Whitley Bay, after a club decision to postpone games at both junior and senior level.

Hexham and District Sunday League officials also acted early, calling off games prior to last weekend.

An FA statement read: “Following the Government’s announcement, for people to avoid social contact and gatherings where possible, we are now advising that all grassroots football in England is postponed for the foreseeable future.

“Throughout this period, we have taken Government advice with the priority being the health and wellbeing of all. We will continue to work closely with the grassroots game during this time.”

Despite a cup final win for Tynedale Panthers U18 on Sunday, and a defeat for Tynedale’s first XV in National League Division Two North, there will be no further action for several weeks after the RFU stopped all rugby activity until April 14.

Hexham Racecourse planned to go ahead with its Spring Raceday, next Tuesday. But it was cancelled after the British Horseracing Authority suspended all activity until the end of April.