RUNNERS laced up their shoes for a scenic route through one of north Essex’s most popular pumpkin patches.

Foxes Farm Produce on Halstead Road, Colchester hosted runners of all abilities for a 10k, 5k, and 1k route through its very own pumpkin patch.

The route looped around the fields, pumpkin patch and corn maze on mostly flat traffic-free tracks.

Established in 2007 by Guy and Emily French, the pair enjoy running themselves and frequently hosted mud runs at the farm before Covid.

Emily said: “We opened the fields to the public for the first time ten years ago, and we were the first ‘pick your own’ pumpkin patch in Essex.

“We thought, we’re lucky to be able to run through the fields, let’s see if other people will enjoy it too.”

Theme - Many runners dressed in orange for the pumpkin patch run. Theme - Many runners dressed in orange for the pumpkin patch run. (Image: Steve Brading) The run was a success, with the weather holding back the rain while the crowds ran between the giant orange vegetables and around the corn maze.

Emily said: “It was a great success, and just before our pumpkin patch opens again on Saturday for people to pick their pumpkins.”

The pumpkin patch reopens on Saturday, October 6.

Foxes Farm Produce will also be hosting special spooky pumpkin picking days with food, a licensed bar, and spooky actors.

For more information, visit www.foxesfarmproduce.co.uk