SUNDERLAND City Council has forced the cancellation of a memorial race tomorrow with a demand for £1,200 to temporarily close part of the course.

Houghton Harriers have had to refund entry fees for the Michael Page Memorial 10K – part of the annual Houghton Feast celebrations – after being told a little-used bridle path would have to be closed for health and safety reasons.

A disappointed race organiser Peter Dodsworth said: “There is no way the club can afford that sort of money. We only had 65 runners last year.”

The council has been criticised by UK Athletics, the sport’s governing body which would have provided race insurance.

A spokesman said: “This is a continuation of the takeover by over-zealous health and safety chiefs who don’t investigate the nature of events they are killing off.”

Dodsworth, who told the council that the short bridle path would have been adequately marshalled during the race to safeguard the public, said: “I don’t know where we will go from here. The club is really disappointed with the whole situation.”

The multi-terrain race, in memory of a long-serving official of the club, was moved to Hetton after the route of the original long-established 10K road race, also part of Houghton Feast, was considered dangerous for runners.

Les Clark, Sunderland City Council Head of Street Scene, said: “At the Multi-Agency Events Group where this was discussed it was decided that if the race was to be given permission as an event it would require a road closure in the interests of public safety.

“The minimum cost to taxpayers to cover this, including staff, legal costs and advertising, is £1,200.

“It was the organisers themselves who took the decision not to proceed after hearing it would require a legal order from both ourselves and Durham County Council.”

■ Three times North-East cross country champion Mark Hood makes his first road race appearance for Sunderland Harriers since being injured in last year’s Great North Run in today’s North of England Six Stage Road Relay Championships in Manchester. Also in the team are the reigning North-East champion, Patrick Martin, and British Masters over-45 champion Brian Rushworth.

Morpeth Harriers are also leading medal contenders after finishing fourth last year.

■ There will be three races for junior athletes when the first Kielder Marathon is held around the reservoir on Sunday, October 17. The Osprey Run (1K) is for ages 7-9, the Roman Mile (2K) 10-12 and the Centurian (3K) 13-15.