RUNNERS are set to descend from far and wide to take part in the Thirsk 10 as it celebrates a landmark year.

The event will mark its 40th anniversary this Sunday and scores of runners will be hoping to emulate some of the big names who have taken part in previous years.

These include Brendan Foster and Mike McLeod and more recently, Ali Dixon, who led the field for Team GB at the recent Olympic Games in Rio in the women's marathon.

Ms Dixon won the Thirsk 10 in 2015 in a record time which still stands.

The multi-medal winning Paralympian Tanni Grey Thompson and her husband Ian have also been regulars in the wheelchair race over the years.

The race is popular with runners because it is mostly flat and the route is road-based, with just a couple of railway bridges to contend with.

This allows for fast times and personal bests.

The race was the idea of Norman Smith, the founder of Thirsk and Sowerby Harriers running club and its chairman for many years.

He himself was an international athlete.

In its early days the race was run from Northallerton to Thirsk, finishing in Thirsk Market Place.

This was put a stop to one year when the race, which started beyond the level crossing near Sam Turners in Northallerton, saw one hundred or so runners getting across before the railway crossing gates came down.

The remainder of the athletes had to wait until the train went through, though some did leap the gates to continue.

The route now starts starts on Newsham Road, taking in Sandhutton, Busby Stoop and Carlton Miniott before finishing back at Thirsk Racecourse.

Newsham Road and the back road into Sandhutton will be closed for the duration of the event and the organising club, Thirsk and Sowerby Harriers, said they appreciate the patience of local residents and motorists.

There is a £200 prize for the winning man and woman, plus an extensive prize list throughout the age categories.

For those less concerned about competitive running, a fun run will also take place on Sunday morning along an off-road route of about 1.5-miles.

The fun run starts at 10am, the wheelchair race starts at 10.50am – led by a marshal on a bicycle – and the main Thirsk 10 starts at 11am.

Late entries will be taken until 30 minutes before the start of the race with an extra charge of £2.

Late entrants will still qualify for race prizes.

The prizegiving will take place at the racecourse after 12.45pm.