THIS weekend will see hundreds of people take to the streets in the Darlington 10k Road Run.

More than 700 entries have been received already and traditionally many people enter on the day, which could see numbers swell to more than 900 runners.

It is expected about 200 more will take part in the 2km fun run.

This year's entrants should already be well into their ten-week training schedule, printed each week in The Northern Echo, which is designed to get runners in shape.

Those who have followed it should be able to complete the Tees Valley TEC Darlington Road Run, on Sunday. Last year, the run attracted more than 700 athletes.

Event organiser, Jeff Dawson of Darlington Borough Council leisure services, said he was delighted with the interest the race had generated.

He said: "The amount of runners which have entered is very encouraging, and historically, we get many more entering on the day.

"We have a mixture of really top class road runners taking part alongside those who are doing it for fun and to raise money for a good cause."

The event will raise money for St Teresa's Hospice, Darlington. It is sponsored by the Tees Valley Training and Enterprise Council and Darlington Borough Council, the leisure services department of which organises the event.

The run is normally held on Sunday during the August Bank Holiday weekend, but the date was changed to avoid clashing with the Millennium Cavalcade of Steam celebration, which has since been cancelled.

The race will start and finish on High Row, in Darlington town centre.

Darlington's radio station Alpha 103.2 is supporting the road run.

The final training schedule for week ten is to run for 20 minutes, three times during the week, and rest on Saturday.