Communal charities struggling with the financial impact of the pandemic have suffered another blow with the announcement that this year's race, already delayed from April to October, will be for elite competitors only.

The potential number of Jewish runners had already been diminished with the rescheduled date falling on Succot.

At Norwood, whose marathon team raised £40,000 in 2019, senior challenge events manager Julie Braithwaite said the charity had 32 runners registered for April. That number had fallen to 20 for October, given the clash with Succot.

"With so much uncertainty as to whether the new date would go ahead, it has been difficult to maintain morale, momentum and adherence to a training schedule. However, while massively disappointed, we completely understand the organisers’ decision.

"We are now actively encouraging participants to sign up for the virtual marathon in October and will be in contact with everyone individually with respect to their plans for next year and beyond.”

The 2021 race has also been scheduled for October, in the hope of giving charity runners greater certainty that they will be able to take part.