A celebratory event saw hundreds of people turn out in marking the 75th birthday of the NHS.

East Coast Community Healthcare (ECCH) teamed up with the popular Lowestoft Parkrun to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the NHS at the weekend.

Lowestoft Journal: ECCH and Lowestoft parkrun teamed up to mark NHS75 on Saturday. Picture: ECCHECCH and Lowestoft parkrun teamed up to mark NHS75 on Saturday. Picture: ECCH (Image: ECCH)

Around 400 participants ran, jogged or walked the 5km course along the seafront on Saturday - with many wearing blue to mark the special birthday event.

With a team of 23 runners from ECCH - a Community Interest Company which provides NHS community health services across Norfolk and Waveney, with its headquarters based in Lowestoft - taking part, they also supplied bottles of water to everyone as they crossed the finish line.

Lowestoft Journal: ECCH and Lowestoft parkrun teamed up to mark NHS75 on Saturday. Picture: ECCHECCH and Lowestoft parkrun teamed up to mark NHS75 on Saturday. Picture: ECCH (Image: ECCH)

The NHS and Parkrun UK joined forces at events across the country at the weekend to acknowledge the contribution that the NHS makes to the health of the nation and to celebrate all the staff and volunteers, past and present, who have made the NHS what it is.

It was the second time Parkrun UK and the NHS has worked together in this way.

Lowestoft Journal: ECCH and Lowestoft parkrun teamed up to mark NHS75 on Saturday. Picture: ECCHECCH and Lowestoft parkrun teamed up to mark NHS75 on Saturday. Picture: ECCH (Image: ECCH)

In 2018, for the 70th anniversary of the NHS, a UK-wide celebration was held which saw more than 146,000 people taking part.

ECCH's associate director of population health, Nick Wright, said: "We are really grateful to Lowestoft Parkrun for dedicating their weekly event to the NHS, and I’m delighted that so many colleagues decided to join in.

"It was great fun and the sun shone down on us.

"I hope those who took part from ECCH will decide to make it a regular occurrence and encourage others to do the same."

Lowestoft Journal: ECCH and Lowestoft parkrun teamed up to mark NHS75 on Saturday. Picture: ECCHECCH and Lowestoft parkrun teamed up to mark NHS75 on Saturday. Picture: ECCH (Image: ECCH)

Lowestoft Parkrun’s Rob Fawcett said: "Our celebratory event provided the perfect opportunity to show our gratitude and appreciation to all past and present employees as well as services of the NHS.

"This was community cohesion at its finest."