THE future of the Hempstead Valley Half-Marathon, the Medway area's showpiece road race, looks bleak (Andy Ramsbottom writes).

A Medway Council report has recommended that the race, held annually every May, be scapped from the calendar due to falling numbers and health and safety concerns.

In the last 22 years, the number of runners in the event has dropped from 1,500 to just 120 last year, when there were more course marshals then competitors.

And the cost of closing roads and meeting health and safety rules has made staging the race too expensive. But the fun run held on the same day as the half marathon and used by hundreds of youngsters to raise sponsorship money for various causes, could still be saved.

The report recommends the three-mile run to carry on at an unconfirmed venue this summer.

Medway Council spokesperson said: “Officers are recommending that the Hempstead Half- Marathon doesn’t go ahead any more because of falling numbers taking part and concerns about the route.

“A report will go before Cabinet and it will be members who will make the final decision.”

If the event is scrapped, it will deny Medway & Maidstone distance runner Barry Royden the chance to set a UK record by winning the race for a 16th consecutive year.

Royden, currently in training for the London Marathon, said: “When I heard rumours the race would be cancelled I was very disappointed.

“It’s become a highlight of the season and I was looking forward to the challenge of winning it for the 16th time.

“To be denied that chance because the race has been scrapped would be very sad. I hope something can be done because there is nowhere for road runners to compete in the Medway area.”

The officers' report will go before councillors at an unconfirmed date.