Record number of runners to take on half marathon

The 13.1-mile (21.1km) route will start and finish in Northampton town centre

A record number of people are due to take part in a town's half marathon on Sunday, organisers said.

More than 1,500 people have signed up for The Amazing Northampton Run, up by about 200 from last year.

The event, which was previously known simply as the Northampton Half Marathon, was first held in 2013.

The 13.1-mile (21.1km) route will begin and end in the town centre and pass by the town’s three premier sports clubs.

As well as the half marathon, there is a shorter 3.3-mile (5.3km) race and half marathon relay event.

Simon Hollis from race organisers Go Beyond Challenge said "a bit of work" had gone into alterations to the route following feedback from last year's Amazing Northampton Run.

This year's race will start on St Giles Street rather than Abington Street, while other changes have seen an additional section added to Becket's Park.

In future years it is planned the route will feature Northampton's Market Square, which will reopen next week following a £10m revamp.

The route passes the home stadium of Northampton Saints, Northamptonshire County Cricket Club and Northampton Town

Until the 2022 edition, the route started in the town before heading out to the surrounding countryside and Brackmills Industrial Estate before finishing at Delapre Abbey.

But Mr Hollis said last year's race, being more closely tied to the town centre, had made an "incredible" difference to the numbers turning out in support along the route.

"I would encourage anyone who is thinking of coming out to cheer on the runners to get involved - it's all about creating that sense of community and showing how amazing our town really is," he said.

The race will get under way at 09:30 BST, with road closures starting from 08:30.

The event, which was previously known simply as the Northampton Half Marathon, was first held in 2013