A TOTAL of 450 experienced and fun runners have booked their place in this year's Stoke Stampede 10k race.

Hundreds of people are expected to see the annual UK Athletics licensed event get underway in the village of Stoke St Gregory at 11am on Sunday (January 9).

Runners and spectators should be free of any Covid symptoms and are being advised to take a lateral flow test early on Sunday morning.

Marshals will be on hand to direct people in vehicles to suitable parking areas.

Runners can collect their race numbers on Saturday between noon and 1.30pm from the pavilion on the village playing field or on the day of the race from 9am to 10.40am at the Williams Hall.

Medals will be handed to all runners as they finish and a prize ceremony is scheduled to take place at 12.30pm.

The village square and roads leading into it will be closed to traffic for the duration of the race to ensure a safe passage for runners and spectators.

A spokesperson for the organisers said: "We look forward to welcoming you to our lovely village for you to enjoy a magnificent Stampede at Stoke St Gregory."

Stoke Stampede started out as a fun pram race between the two pubs in the village and has grown into a popular 10k in the South West race calendar.

It acts as a fundraiser for the village playing field.

The spokesperson added: "For many years the race was run between Christmas and New Year, but in recent years an early January Sunday has become the new date.

"The Stoke Stampede is seen as an ideal start of the running calendar both by beginners as well as by experienced and highly trained athletes.

"The undulating terrain with only the odd steep climb in the course is challenging enough to make the race interesting, yet achievable for the novice runner."