A NUMBER of roads around Worcester are to be closed to allow for runners in the Worcester City Run, which takes place this weekend.

More than 5,000 runners are expected to take part in the event, which takes place on Sunday, September 15.

Runners will take on either a 10k or a half marathon, beginning in Castle Street before looping round Foregate Street, Friar Street, Deansway, past Worcester Cathedral, along the river to Diglis, back along the other side of the river past Chapter Meadows and Blackfinch New Road, down Hylton Road and past the University campus, before looping round and coming back up Hylton Road and back to the finish line, opposite where the run started.

As a result, Worcestershire County Council’s highways department has announced road closures in the city for most of the day.

Signs have been put in place warning road users that the roads will be closed between 5am and 1pm, with some shut from 8am and closed until later than 1pm.

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Grandstand Road and Croft Road will be closed for the longest period, being shut between 5am and 3pm on Sunday.

The Butts, Farrier Street, Foregate Street, New Street and Friar Street will be closed for the shortest period of time, from 8am until 11am.

Bell Lane, Martley Road (B4204) and Henwick Road from Martley Road to the University entrance will be closed from 8am until midday.

Roads closed from 8am until 12.30pm are North Parade, North Quay, College Road, Deansway, Bridge Street, All Saints Road, Worcester Bridge (East and Westbound), Hylton Road, Tybridge Street and New Road.

Himbleton Road, Comer Gardens and Fern Road will all be closed from 8am until 1.15pm.

Oldbury Road from Comer Gardens to Howard Road will be closed from 8am until 11.30am and Portland Walk, Mill Street, Diglis Road, Basin Road, Diglis Dock Road and Navigation Road will all be closed from 8.30am until 11.30am.

The riverside paths to the east and west between Worcester Bridge and Diglis footbridge will be in use for the event but will remain open.

Residents are advised to take care when using the paths.

One half of Diglis footbridge will remain open during the race, one half for runners and the other half for pedestrians.

The Worcester City Run is organised by the Runs of the North organisation and sponsored by Worcester based industrial gas firm Air Products, which has signed up to back the Worcester City Runs for three years.

The Grace Kelly Children's Cancer Trust is a charity partner.

For full details of the road closures, go to worcester.gov.uk/road-closures