TWO bishops will be swapping their mitres for sports vests when they join the starting line on Sunday.

Bishop of Newcastle, Christine Hardman, will be joined by Bishop of Berwick, Mark Tanner, at this year's Great North Run.

Bishop Hardman, a marathon veteran who is raising money for the West End Refugee Service Hardship Fund, said: "The way they support people coming to this city who are desperately in need of friendship and support is extraordinarily professional and yet compassionate.

"They help people who often have nowhere else to turn, and what I really like about WERS is that many of the volunteers are people who came seeking help, and are giving to others the same friendship they received."

She added: "I used to run a respectable pace. I’m not sure I can match it now, but I’ll certainly give it my best shot."

Bishop Tanner is raising money for youth work in Byker carried out by Mission Initiative Newcastle East.

He said: "Being a bishop in the North-East, it would simply be wrong not to engage with the Great North Run. I’m so looking forward to being part of this great community event."

The pair will run the course in matching clerical purple T-shirts and insist there will be no competition in reaching the finishing line first.

Bishop Hardman said: "I really wish there was, but I couldn’t keep up with Bishop Mark in a million Sundays."