THOUSANDS of runners and their supporters will descend on Halesowen this Sunday for the town's biggest event of the year - the Black Country Road Run.

There will be a carnival atmosphere in the town with fun runners in fancy dress outfits, live music and a troupe of cheerleaders giving entrants encouragement as well as residents lining the route.

The event, which is organised by the Halesowen and Rowley Regis Rotary Club, is in its fourth year and is the biggest yet - with over 1,000 runners already registered for the day.

Race organiser Alan Bowler said: "We are in for a scorcher on Sunday and it promises to be wonderful day for all the family.

"We have ordered lots of water which will be given to runners throughout the course and are urging everyone to bring their sun cream and be sensible in the sun."

He added: "People can still register on the day to run and we are on course to get our maximum amount of runners - 1,300."

"And we will have more marshals than ever before with the Zion Christian Centre supplying 60 people, 4x4 marshals on the course and motorbike stewards too as well as our friends from Mercedes Stourbridge."

He added: "There is so much going on in the town on the day and we are delighted to have the Bloco Louco Samba Band performing and over 30 cheerleaders who will be giving runners encouragement at the finish line."

The Mayor of Dudley Councillor Steve Waltho will start the 10k road race at 9am.

At 10.30am Katie Woolman from Lifestyle Fitness will lead the warm up for the fun run at Somers Square with some help from everyone's favourite dancing grannies The Fizzogs.

Legendary fundraiser Blind Dave Heeley will be starting the 5km fun run outside Benjamins nightclub at 11am, he will have some help from Free Radio's Breakfast DJs Cat and Nelly.

The following roads will be closed from 6am until 1pm on Sunday; Pool Road, Great Cornbow, Rumbow, Birmingham Street,

Birmingham Road, Hagley Road (between Queensway and Hagley Street).

Access to Tenter Drive and Cobham Road will be managed by Dudley Council road management team.

The following roads will be closed between 9am until 10.30am; Dogkennel Lane, Summer Hill (between Hagley Road and Queensway)

Summer Hill (between Dogkennel Lane and Powell Street), Waxland Road and Broadway Avenue.