A LIST of city centre roads affected by the Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon have been released by organisers as the big race edges closer.

Around 7,000 runners are expected to take to the streets of York and surrounding villages on October 12 to tackle the 26.2mile course for a variety of charities.

Organisers are now informing runners, spectators, residents and visitors that a number of the region’s roads will be closed or have access restricted during the event.

The marathon starts and finishes at the University of York’s Heslington campus.

Upon leaving the university, runners will travel through the historic city centre – passing through the medieval walls – before heading north east and out of the city.

Participants will travel through, or close by, Stockton on the Forest, Grange Wood, Upper Helmsley, Stamford Bridge, Gate Helmsley, Turkers Wood, Murton, Osbaldwick and back towards Heslington.

To allow organisers to begin setting up the extensive event village, University Road, in York, will be closed between Innovation Way and Green Dykes Lane on Saturday, October 11 from noon and will re-open at 9pm on Sunday, October 12.

Elsewhere, closures on the Sunday begin from 6am but will re-open on a rolling basis as soon as it is safe to do so.

City centre roads affected by the closures include: Walmgate, Hope Street, Leadmill Lane, Piccadilly, Parliament Street, Blake Street, Duncombe Place, Deangate, Goodramgate and Monkgate.

Most will close from around 9.15am and should be re-opened by around 10.30am.

Further afield, Heworth Green A1036, Stockton Lane, The Village, Common Lane, Northgate Lane, Holtby Lane, Murton Way, Bad Bargain Lane and Osbaldwick Lane will be among those affected.

Lisa Ashcroft, The Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon event lead, said: "Of course, as with any event of this magnitude some road closures will necessary to ensure the safety of the participants and spectators.

"Unfortunately a certain amount of disruption is inevitable and we would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused. All closures will be lifted as soon as possible.”

More details on the closures can be downloaded from The Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon website www.theyorkshiremarathon.com/news/

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