FOOTBALL legend Sir Bobby Robson is to fire the starting pistol for the 2007 BUPA Great North Run in Newcastle upon Tyne on Sunday, September 30.

The BUPA Great North Run is Britain and Europe's biggest road race and the world's biggest half-marathon.

One of the 50,000 runners whom Sir Bobby, the former England and Newcastle United manager, will wave off at the start of the 13.1 mile course will be the current England coach Steve McClaren, who was last year's starter.

Full story in tomorrow's Northern Echo