Only few days are left to enter one of the region's premier half-marathons.

More than 1,000 runners usually take place in the popular 13.1-mile race in Redcar with runners coming from as far as Aberdeen.

Last year Redcar woman Tanni Grey Thompson regained her championship status when she won the wheelchair final. Since then she has become a dame after striking gold once again at the paralympics.

This year Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and its partner Liberata will issue a microchipped wristband to each runner to record their exact time when they finish the run on Sunday, March 13.

Hundreds of people are expected to watch the run which starts at 10.30am from Redcar Leisure Centre in Majuba Road.

One runner is shop worker Joe Mewes, who plans to run his tenth half-marathon but will not be completing any training. Mr Mewes, of Middlesbrough but who works at Morrisons in Darlington, will raise money for Redcar Lifeboat. This will be his debut half-marathon in Redcar.

Last year the men's race was won by Terry Wall from Morpeth and the women's race was won by Bernadette Taylor from Darlington.

An entry form is printed in this edition of The Northern Echo but postal entries must be returned by Monday, February 28. The event, for both serious and fun runners, incorporates the North-East Championships. Entry is £11.50 for club runners and £12.50 for unattached.

Each runner to complete the course will receive a T-shirt and medal.

For more information call Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's events team on (01642) 471503.