'I've been cat-called and followed whilst running'

Members of a Lancashire running club have said being cat-called and beeped at by drivers is a "common occurrence".

Alana Cordran and Adeolu Agboola, members of Preston-based Chew's Yard run club said they feel vulnerable and unsafe when out exercising, particularly at night.

It comes after Lancashire Police asked residents about their experience of running in the city, and found that 93% of Lancashire women adapted their behaviour to avoid danger.

Agboola, who will not run alone in winter due to safety concerns, said she would like to see future conversations focus on the behaviour of the perpetrators rather than the measures forced on female runners to avoid it.

Agboola said there were two very different experiences of running in Preston.

"There's running in groups, and then there's running alone," she told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"I always feel very safe, particularly at night [with a run club] but running alone is a completely different experience.

"Running alone can feel very vulnerable at times, particularly when there's cat-calling, [drivers] honking their horns, people following you [and] running alongside you", she said.

Cordran, a fellow runner at Chew's Yard agreed, adding such actions were a "common occurrence".

"It's just another layer of something you have to think about, it's scary and makes you feel vulnerable".

Cordran, said she was "exposed to much more" running in a city like Preston, as opposed to a more rural environment.

Chew's Yard run club meet every Thursday evening in attempts to "break the unspoken curfew for women" and welcome runners into the group with an inclusive and safe atmosphere.

Its coordinator, Greg Jackson, said: "It's an incredibly hard thing, particularly when the light sets in, for women to run safely".

He said the club focuses on planning safe running routes for its members.

Lancashire Police, the force behind a resurgent push to hear from runners, said it has heard reports from women over "unwanted attention" when out running.

"We want to understand what this looks like here in Preston so we can shape practical, targeted action that improves safety", a statement read.

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