THE NEW Year's Day 10k in Kendal was called off because of the wintry weather on Monday.

In the race's 20-year history it was the second time the event has had to be cancelled.

Snow forced it off five years ago and this year's event faced a similar scenario.

Organiser Peter Acland said:"It got to Friday and because the weather forecast was for it to be frostbound until New Year's Eve and then blizzards, we decided then to cancel, to help people make alternative New Year arrangements."

Apologies were made to around 20 people - the farthest from Colne in Lancashire - still turned up at the race headquarters at Kendal RUFC, despite announcements through the local media and a pre-recorded message on the entry-form telephone number and on the front page of the Kendal AC website.

"It had thawed a bit," said Peter "but if anything it was more dangerous than when it was snowing.

"Coming down from Skelsmergh Church on the bend to Shap Road it was very slippery.

"We've had to get smarter and smarter on safety matters and in the claim culture of the present times we had to play if safe."