Hardy runners have overwhelmingly voted in favour of retaining the Essar Four Villages Half Marathon’s January calendar slot – in spite of two races being cancelled in the last three years due to bad weather.

Snow and safety fears forced the 2013 event to be called off 24 hours before the starting gun was due to be fired, while the 2015 race was cancelled on the morning after the icy course was deemed dangerous by police, igniting a debate over whether the popular road race should continue to be held in the midst of winter.

Helsby Running Club, which organises the half marathon, asked all those who entered the 2015 race whether they thought it should be moved to later in the year.

Of around 1,500 entrants who responded, a resounding 70.2% want it to remain in January.

Chris Baynham-Hughes, from Helsby Running Club, said: “We are pleased with the results, although we have the concern and headache of what the weather will do.

“Realistically though, we could pick a date between November and the end of April and have weather that would cancel the race.

“We recognise and totally understand that people will vote with their feet, but we are also regularly told it is a highlight of the season and people really look forward to the race.

“We were also really encouraged by the stream of positivity and good will we’ve received from the majority of people ranging in background from the hardcore club runners aiming for a time to the runners that work so hard to complete the distance.

“The survey has given us a far better insight into our competitors and there are certainly some ideas we will be implementing.”

Fellow Helsby Running Club member Steve Riley added: “I think the general feeling was that we wanted to keep it in January so this is a massive vote of confidence.

“We’re pleased that we held the vote and that we found out what people think.”

Steve added that preparation for the 2016 race would begin in July.

Seasoned marathon runner and Weaver Vale MP Graham Evans said he is looking forward to running the Helsby Half again next January: “The date in January is firmly fixed in the running calendar and I am glad that due to popular support it will remain at that time – it gives you an event to aim for after Christmas and the New Year.”