PEOPLE are being encouraged to make a healthy start to the New Year by signing up to a popular running programme.

Durham County Council’s Couch to 5K courses are aimed at people who are new to fitness or looking to get back into running.

The free courses start with a mix of walking and running to help people build their stamina, with the aim that after they weeks they are able to run 5km.

Cllr Ossie Johnson, Cabinet member for tourism, culture, leisure and rural issues, said: “The Couch to 5K initiative is fantastic. It’s made a lot of inactive people more enthusiastic about physical activity, which is great to see as it is a brilliant boost to physical and mental wellbeing.”

Each session lasts 45 minutes and includes a warm up and cool down.

More than 60 graduates of the course recently completed their first park run at Chester-le-Street Riverside Park.

The runners had attended Couch to 5K sessions in Durham City, Pity Me, Leadgate and Stanley.

As well as taking part in the run, the group also raised £189 for the Great North Air Ambulance Service.

New courses start next week on Monday at Coundon Community Fitness Suite, on Grey Gardens at 6pm, and at Riverside Sports Pavilion, Chester-le-Street at 6pm, on Thursday at Blackhall Community Centre, on Hesleden Road at 1.30pm, and at Seaham Harbour Marina Activity Centre at 5.30pm and on Wednesday, February 21, at Peases West Sports Centre, in Crook at 6pm.

For more information about the sessions visit durham.gov.uk/running