SCOTS track legend Liz McColgan has joined female runners, sports coaches and politicians who have criticised a decision to axe the UK’s longest running women’s 10k race.

The former world champion 10,000m runner said events such as this encouraged women who might not have otherwise had the confidence to take up running.

The Great Run Company has announced it will not stage the event “moving forward” saying the number of entries had dropped by 48 per cent over the last three years, while female participation in the Great Scottish Run had risen by 54 per cent.

READ MORE: Glasgow Women's 10k: Evening Times looks back on 25 years of tears and triumphs

Glasgow Life, which contributes £150,000 to stage the 10k and the Great Scottish Run events, said the women’s event had achieved it’s goal to encourage more females to take up sport.

However, the decision prompted an angry and emotive backlash from participants, who praised the event’s supportive, relaxed atmosphere, with one runner saying: “It was a mark of pride that Glasgow held the UK’s largest women’s 10k road race.”

Liz McColgan said: “I think it’s a bit sad as races like this encourage women who might not have confidence in their fitness to get out there and run.

“ I think more races like park runs are taking the numbers away as events are free but park runs are not the same as organized. properly measured races like the Glasgow women’s 10k.

READ MORE: Glasgow 10k Great Women's Run cancelled after 26 years

“It is sad that races like this in cities are disappearing.”

Former Labour leader Johann Lamont said the event had helped foster a ‘love of running.’

Ann Lister, a former coach, led council-run beginner courses in the city’s East End to prepare women for the 10k, and also took part in 11 herself, achieving a personal best of 49.14 minutes after taking up running in later life.

She said: “The women, not only the Network ladies, made the ladies 10k their goal to get into running.

“I know of a one lady and she only does or should I say did that event every year.

“Lots of women would come back year after year to do the Network 10k training courses which I coached, guided and maybe bullied a tiny bit.

“This wasn’t about times as such but setting goals to aim for.”

Katherine Wainwright said: “I also started running (or rather walk, jog & weep!) training for the women’s 10k many years ago and that along with the network were among the best things that have happened to me: having a goal within the comfy and supportive celebrations of the women’s 10k was key.

“This is a poor decision.

READ MORE: End of Glasgow women's 10k is a sad loss for first time female runners

“ I wonder if Glasgow Life have done an equality impact assessment?”

Margaret Moore, said: “This was a perfect race for all the beginners to aim for.

“Because it was a “women’s only “ race a lot of ladies felt more comfortable and less pressure to run. I think it is a massive loss.”

A spokesperson for The Great Run Company said, “Unfortunately, entries, which had been steadily decreasing, have dropped by 48 per cent in the last three years and the event is no longer viable at this level.

“At the same time, more women than ever are taking part in mixed events, like the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run 10K, where female participation is up to a record 54 per cent.”

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