The future of Maidstone's popular parkrun has been left in doubt, sparking an outcry by residents.

The event, which was set up two-and-a-half years ago, attracts hundreds of have-a-go athletes every weekend, however with Kent Life changing hands, runners could soon be forced to change their track.

Earlier this month, Maidstone Borough Council appointed Planning Solutions Ltd to take over the running of the Lock Lane site, in Sandling. The current contract, with Continuum Attractions, will end on Monday, November 30.

It’s thought the attraction will continue to operate as normal, however with the announcement, organisers were told the last race would be run next Saturday.

The free 5km community dash leaves Lock Lane, Sandling, at 9am every Saturday, before running along the river, through Whatman Park and back to Kent Life.

Donna Carr, the driving force behind the creation, says the news will come as a blow to the 4,500 residents registered for the Saturday morning get-together.

She said: “I know how important this event is to the people of Maidstone. We put a post on Facebook letting people know about the possible change and everyone has gone mad.

“It isn’t just a run, it’s a community of friends that support each other and encourage one another. We have families come along to take part, from toddlers, teenagers, parents and grandparents.

"It gives completely different generations, something in common and something to talk about.”

Mrs Carr, who lives in Waters Edge, Maidstone, was previously a regular at the Whitstable gathering, making a round-trip of 50 miles for her parkrun fix, but was able to generate enough interest to get a new event started in her home town.

The 53-year-old added Maidstone council were very supportive with setting up the race in 2013, and encouraged the runners to set-off from Kent Life.

Chatham and Aylesford MP and Sports Minister, Tracey Crouch, said: "parkrun is one of the fastest growing events and it's hugely popular. I'm looking into this as a matter of urgency, to see if there is anyway to secure it's future."

Hundreds have taken to social media to raise their concerns and share experiences:

The first Maidstone parkrun was held on April 13, 2013, with 106 runners taking to the track. The record for finishers of 325 was set on January 24, 2015, and the average is now almost 250 every weekend.

There is a wide network of Saturday morning events for runners in Kent. Around the country, parkrun is known as an opportunity for people of all abilities and levels of fitness to participate in regular exercise.

Maidstone council disputed claims and said: "We have no reason to believe the new contractor will stop parkrun, and we will encourage them to continue."