THERE'S a full field of runners again as the 32nd annual Deane DLO Taunton 10k race hits the streets this Sunday (September 29).

Organisers are hoping for fine weather when more than 600 runners set off from Better’s Blackbrook Pavilion at 11am.

The course takes them around Chestnut Drive, Upper Holway Road, Holway Avenue, South Road, and Stoke Road before heading out to Stoke St Mary then back along Haydon Lane, past the golf driving range, to the finish at Blackbrook Pavilion.

The event is organised by Taunton Carnival Committee, whose chairman Marilyn House said the race is once again well supported.

She added: "All 700 places were taken before the closing date.

"It’s an amazing show of support for the event, especially when there are other races not too far away.

"The majority of runners for this race are local, with many not being club members, but just doing it for themselves."

Local clubs Taunton AC, Running Forever, Taunton RC, Hydro Harriers, Trull Troggers, Just Run Taunton and Somerset RC Tri are fielding around 200 runners between them.

Mrs House added: "We’re especially pleased to see Taunton Deane’s One Team this year, with 30 staff taking part in memory of Cyril Rowe, past parks manager and longtime supporter of our race, who sadly passed away this year."

With this number of runners on the roads organisers are asking drivers to be cautious and patient around the route to ensure the competitors' safety.

Race director John Lewis said: "The race is run on an anti-clockwise course to minimise conflict with traffic as much as possible.

"We have a 30-minute road closure at the Blackbrook Way/Lisieux Way roundabout so we can set up the start and get the race under way safely.

"Apart from that there are only two points on the 10k route where traffic is held up for runners, at the Upper Holway Road junction and in Chestnut Drive, where we have to get runners from one part of Stoke Road to the other.

"The field isn’t spread out at these points so the hold ups should be only a few minutes.”

Look out for race reports and pictures in next week’s County Gazette with full results and photos appearing on our website at countygazette.co.uk