WARBURTONS Bakers is to help secure the North-East's oldest athletics club's road race.

The six-mile Norman Woodcock Memorial Road Race has been organised every year since 1974 by Elswick Harriers, in Newcastle, in memory of Mr Woodcock, who kept the club afloat after the Second World War.

The 31st race will be held at 2pm on Saturday from High Gosforth Park, Newcastle, when more than 50 runners from the region will take part.

This year it is being sponsored by family baker Warburtons, which has a base in Newburn, only a short sprint from the Elswick Harriers' base at Newburn Leisure Centre.

Some of the North-East's most famous runners have won the race over the years, including Brendan Foster and Steve Cram.

Mike McLeod, the 10,000-metres silver medallist in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, has won it ten times.