RUNNERS and spectators preparing for the region's half-marathon this weekend are being urged to follow police advice about road closures and parking.

About 49,000 athletes and fun-runners are expected to line up for this year's Great North Run, which will start at 10.40am on Sunday.

It will be preceded by the wheelchair race, which starts at 10.10am, and the Women's British Half-Marathon Championships at 10.15am.

Competitors have already been advised that the baggage buses leave at 9.40am.

The event follows the usual route from Newcastle to South Shields and police are warning there will be road closures and parking restrictions.

It includes the North-West Radial, the A167 central motorway, Tyne Bridge, Felling by-pass, the A194, John Reid Road, King George Road, Prince Edward Road, Redwell Lane and the Coast Road. In Newcastle, the North-West Radial route from Cowhill to the start next to North Terrace Interchange, closes at 11pm on Saturday. Part of the A167 central motorway will also be affected by this closure.

On Sunday, the A167 central motorway to the Tyne Bridge will close at 8.45am, the route through Gateshead via Park Lane roundabout, Felling by-pass to White Mare Pool, will close at 9am and the route through South Shields via Leam Lane, John Reid Road to the Coast Road will close at 9.30am.

Roads will re-open once all runners have passed through and the roads have been cleaned, which should be at about 3.30pm for Newcastle and Gateshead.

Competitors and spectators are advised to use public transport wherever possible.

Nexus is providing extra trains on the Tyne and Wear Metro and two ferries will run continuously across the Tyne on Sunday, 10am to 5pm.