A NEW running event is set to be launched this summer.

The Brighton Trail Weekend will incorporate a trail marathon, along with 10K and mini miles events in Stanmer Park.

Councillors were given the go ahead for Grounded Events, the team behind the Brighton Marathon, to stage the event on June 25 and 26 this year.

The event is the UK’s first major city trail running event.

The marathon is set to start on Madeira Drive - the same place as the Brighton Marathon - but will finish in Stanmer Park.

Brighton Trail Weekend is one of a range of events proposed for the year ahead, which were agreed by councillors at a meeting of the Tourism, Equalities, Communities and Culture committee.

Councillors granted landlord’s consent for a range of events in the city’s parks, open spaces and on Madeira Drive, which aim to attract visitors and boost the economy.

The 2022 proposed programme includes regular events such as Pride, Brighton Marathon and Brighton Festival and Fringe events.

New events include This is the Modern World, an exhibition which comes to St Peter’s Square in August. It will feature a collection of memorabilia fashion, vinyl and imagery from Paul Weller.

Footprint +, an outdoor property conference promoting a zero-carbon future, is also set to take place, while celebrity chef Tom Kerridge will bring Pub in the Park, a three-day food and music festival, to Preston Park in September.

In July, the Brighton Velocity/Tour of Sussex - a new seafront cycling festival – will combine the Tour of Sussex with a festival of cycling and cycle sport.

Later that month, Valley Gardens will host the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 Fan Zone, while there will be a roadshow event on Hove Lawns in June to promote ticket sales for the matches at the Brighton and Hove Community Stadium.

Other events proposed for parks and open spaces include a Classic Car Show, Brighton Kite Festival, International Circus, Paddle Round the Pier, Luna Outdoor Cinema, a Thai Festival and the popular winter Burning of the Clocks event.

Brighton Carnival (previously Kemptown Carnival) will also be moving to Madeira Drive after permission was granted last year, but the event was later postponed due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Councillor Martin Osborne, joint chairman of the Tourism, Equalities, Communities and Culture committee said: “The Covid pandemic has had a devastating effect on the tourism and events industry, so we are pleased to have approved this exciting and diverse programme of outdoor events for the year ahead.

“We are also delighted to welcome new trail running and cycling events which will help to strengthen Brighton & Hove’s reputation as a major sporting city.

“The return of Pride, Brighton Marathon and a full Brighton Festival programme will be particularly welcome in attracting visitors, boosting the local economy and providing valuable publicity.”