WITH less than a month until one of the biggest events in Basingstoke, runners and fundraisers are urged to sign up to this year’s half-marathon.

Now in its eight year, the Basingstoke half marathon is an established part of the local sporting calendar with support from the whole community, including of course headline sponsors, Phillips Solicitors who have been involved since 2011.

With more than 1,000 runners already signed up to this year’s race, which takes place on Sunday, 7 October.

St. Michaels’s Hospice will be this year’s event charity, with the hospice sending an army of volunteers to the race to act as support during the event on the day.

To date their association with the race has raised more £60,000 since 2011.

As preparations progress for this year’s event, residents are reminded that there will be road closures in place during the day to ensure to keep the runners safe, they are the same as in previous years although the rural part of the course will run in the opposite direction to previous years, to give the runners a different view.

These road closures will include Hackwood Road in both directions, part of the A339 from Hackwood Road, Farleigh Road in both directions from its junction with A339 to junction with Grammarsham Lane, Woods Lane, Church Lane Ellisfield from its junction with Green Lane and Grove Road between Venture Roundabout and its junction with Whistler Close.

There will be yellow AA signs diverting traffic around the route.

The race starts at 11am from Hackwood Road, with most road closures being put in place from 10am.

People who wish to take part in this year’s race still have time to sign up, with October 3 being the deadline for when people must sign up by.

To sign up visit basingstokehalfmarathon.com.