A FORMER County Gazette journalist has challenged Piers Morgan to put his jogging shorts where his well-known mouth is.

Avid runner Laura Briggs, who also penned stories for the Chard and Ilminster News, Bridgwater Mercury and Burnham and Highbridge News, took Mr Morgan to task after he launched a verbal attack on joggers.

Laura, from Somerton, who runs her own communications business, took issue with Mr Morgan after he lashed out at fitness fanatics "running on busy streets and breathing heavily" during the Covid-19 pandemic during one of his rants on ITV's Good Morning Britain.

Bridgwater Mercury: Laura BriggsLaura Briggs

Laura, an ultrarunner and an ambassador for the National Running Show, replied in a tweet saying: "Us runners have to spend our days spitting on people and breathing heavily in large groups.

"Oh no wait, that's just what Piers Morgan says.

"Running alone and local is how we do it during lockdown - SAFELY."

An unrepentant Mr Morgan replied in his usual combative style: "“Hi Laura, I’ve no problem with runners (my wife’s an avid one) until they run along high streets with no masks during a pandemic, spewing spittle over the rest of us.

"In fact, I’ve never understood why runners use high streets other than to show off and annoy everyone."

Bridgwater Mercury: Piers MorganPiers Morgan

Since the Twitter exchange went viral, Laura, head of communications at Curry Mallet-based active wear brand Flanci, has invited Mr Morgan to have a go at running, although he has yet to respond.

Laura said: "I think Mr Morgan’s assertions about runners on high streets is a massive generalisation, and I think rather than trying to cause division between people during a global pandemic, he should be looking to bring people together.

"Being kind and staying fit and healthy is a good start.

"It’s hard enough home schooling and working without leaving the house, but to suggest that active people running down high streets are being irresponsible or spreading Covid-19 is simply irresponsible in itself.

"I’ve been pretty overwhelmed by the response my tweet received.

"I think it’s great that so many people are keeping active during the pandemic, but of course spitting on anybody, anywhere, is totally unacceptable."