A FUN run that has raised tens of thousands of pounds for Hampshire charities in the past has fallen victim to Southampton International Airport's soaraway success.

The Runway Run has been scrapped because the airport is too busy.

Airport bosses could not guarantee organisers an evening without flights to stage the event which attracts hundreds of runners each year.

Since it got off the starting block four years ago, an estimated 2,250 runners have raised £114,000 for charity.

People jogged two lengths of the one-mile runway, last year raising £32,000.

The news that the fundraising run has come to the end of the road has come as a major blow to charities who relied on the event.

Wessex Cancer Trust has been involved with the Runway Run since it was launched.

Jane Carley, the trust's fundraising and communications manager, said: "I think it is very sad because the airport was one of our biggest venues."

She added that her charity was hoping that their new five-mile sponsored run around the Rose Bowl - Hampshire's state-of-the-art cricket ground - would become an annual event.

The Runway Run has also made big fundraising waves for the Jubilee Sailing Trust, which sends disabled and able-bodied people on voyages of a lifetime.

A spokeswoman said: "South-ampton Airport has been a great supporter of the Jubilee Sailing Trust. We enjoyed working with them and are disappointed that this particular event will not be able to take place in the future."

The Motor Neurone Disease Association has also had its funds boosted by the Runway Run.

Southampton and district group chairman Pamela Jupe said: "I am sad to see it go but we are grateful for the support we have had from it. I am sure we will find other ways of raising funds."

The airport's managing director, David Cumming, said: "Because of the amount of traffic we are not able to do our normal Runway Run at the airport."

But the airport is looking at other fundraising events, including a Walk to Cure Diabetes on September 12.