Runners are urging the council to launch Medway’s own marathon or half-marathon to tap in to the growth in the fitness and sporting craze.

An estimated 100 people from the Towns took part in marathons in London, Paris and Brighton last month.

Rehman Chishti, MP for Gillingham and Rainham, who has completed 12 half-marathons for local causes, supports the idea of a Medway marathon and has met the race director for the Headcorn half-marathon, Mike Hawkins, who has put together proposals for a race in the Towns.

He said: “It was great to see so many local people completing the London Marathon raising thousands for good causes, but wouldn’t it be fantastic if they could do it locally too?”

Jenny Baldock, chairman of Rebel Runners Medway, believes a local marathon would have a positive impact on the area.

She said: “We have got 200 affiliated members in our club and they would love to have a local marathon, it would be lovely to see that distance raced locally.”

The club has more than 45 runners taking part in 14 marathons this year including London and Paris as well as smaller local events including the Kent Roadrunner at the Gravesend Cyclopark.

While each week, around 200 runners take part in parkrun - a free 5k at Great Lines Heritage Park.

While running 12 marathons in 12 months Rebecca Beard, 24, set up an initiative called Team Run 12 to encouraging others to start running with her.

She has also raised £40,000 for charity, which helped her become a Pride in Medway sponsors’ award winner last month.

The Chatham runner said: “A marathon in Medway would be fantastic as it would make distance running accessible to more people, and potentially inspire hundreds of others to get active by taking up running.”