There will be no free parking at a Newtown pay and display car park when a charity fun run takes place next month.

The Lingen Davies Cancer Fund is hosting their first Newtown Colour Run at Dolerw Park on Sunday, October 1, where participants will be doused in coloured powder as they make their way around the five-kilometre off-road course.

Hundreds of people are anticipated to take part to raise lots of money for the charity which enhances treatment and cancer services for patients from Mid Wales and Shropshire.

But Powys County Council has said it is unable to make an exception to parking fees for an individual community event following a request from a local councillor.

Hiring a pay and display car park for the day is estimated to be around £492.50 plus an £82 administration fee.

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Conservative councillor Pete Lewington, who represents Newtown West, said he was “very disappointed” by the council’s response after approaching the portfolio holder.  He said hundreds of people are anticipated to visit Newtown which could lead to the machines going slow or even crashing.

Councillor Lewington said: "This lack of support for events such as this which bring visitors to Newtown to support a very worthy cause with knock on benefits for our local businesses shows not only a lack of empathy but a lack of foresight in terms of the economic and wellbeing impacts on our residents.”

The Newtown councillor has called on Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys Cllr Jackie Charlton to reconsider her decision which Powys County Council said was given “due consideration”.

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A Powys County Council spokesperson said: "However, unfortunately the council are unable to make an exception to parking fees for an individual community event.

"To do so would result in a disparity of service across the county with other charities or worth-while community activities also expecting free parking whenever events are organised.

"We would hate to be seen as favouring one organisation or good cause over another, and to allow free parking for all such events would be unsustainable.

"Cllr Lewington and the charity were offered the option of hiring the carpark for the day for a set fee which would allow them to offer free parking to participants.”