Yorkshire Marathon organisers announce 600 extra places after huge demand

Mrs Tomlinson undertook a series of fundraising challenges after being told her cancer was terminal

Organisers of the inaugural Yorkshire Marathon have increased the race's capacity due to huge demand.

An additional 600 places have been made available for the 20 October run through York, after an initial 5,500 were snapped up within three days.

The event is being organised by Jane Tomlinson's For All Events, set up by the family of athlete Jane Tomlinson, who died of cancer in 2007.

Event director Sara Birkinshaw said she had been surprised by its popularity.

She said: "The demand was so high, we could probably have sold out the event twice over."

Places will only be available to those registered on the official Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon waiting list by 23:59 BST on 22 April.

Competitors will need to be on the waiting list to access the registration system when the places go on sale at 09:00 BST on 26 April.

Mrs Tomlinson, from Leeds, undertook a series of fundraising sporting challenges after being told her cancer was terminal in 2000.

'Sensational' demand

She completed three London Marathons, several triathlons, The Great North Run and, together with her brother, cycled from John O'Groats to Land's End and from Rome to Leeds.

By the time of her death in 2007 she had raised more than £1.5m.

When the race was announced in January thousands signed up to take part.

Speaking at the time, Mrs Tomlinson's husband, Mike, said: "We knew it would be popular, but this is just sensational."

The October race's start and finish will be at the University of York.

Runners will pass York's historic city walls, the famous Betty's tea rooms and York Minster, and go through villages in North Yorkshire and the East Riding.