RUNNERS are under starters orders to hit the streets of Warrington for the first English Half Marathon.

A weekend of running activities for all ages is part of the fun for what organisers are calling ‘The people’s challenge’ on October 3 and 4.

John Martindale, co-founder of the run, said: “We recognised an opportunity existed to establish a new festival of running here in Warrington. We are already taking entries for this great new event.”

The run will start at Centre Park outside the offices of the event’s main sponsor New Balance and take runners through parts of south Warrington including Appleton, Stockton Heath and Latchford before reaching the finishing line in Victoria Park.

The half marathon was officially launched last week with some of the town’s charities including St Rocco’s Hospice, The Wolves foundation and the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation being named as partners.

Mike James, co-founder of the run, added: “We are expecting 2,000 to 3,000 runners this year, we have 440 runners signed up already and up to 2012 we expect to have 10,000 runners.”

For those who don’t fancy the 13 miles course they can take part in a fun run on October 3, with a one mile course through the grounds of Walton Hall.

The event has the support of Warrington Borough Council and the North West Development Agency.

Clr Ian Marks, leader of the council, said: “We are extremely delighted to be lending our support to this project. I am sure it’s going to be high profile and bring visitors to the town but also let local people come to the event and raise money for the town’s charities.

“We see it very much part of our Olympic legacy for the town. We who live in Warrington have known what a great place Warrington is and visitors will have a chance to experience it through that event. I’m sure it will be a tremendous event.”

Organisers hope to see a mixture of elite, club, charity and fun runners taking part in the half marathon and will see the numbers increase in future as it becomes more established.

Runners taking part need to be aged 17 or older on October 4 and entry for the half marathon costs £29 per person while the fun run costs £5.