ROAD RACE enthusiasts who have seen the number of North-East events drastically whittled down because of police safety concerns again move to a traffic-free course in the Raby Castle 10K tomorrow.

The event, which replaced the long-standing Barnard Castle Meet ten-mile road race last year, has attracted an entry of over 300 competitors, with more expected to sign in on the day.

Another road race fell victim to increased safety scrutiny when Northumbria Police told organisers of the long-standing Low Fell Gateshead 10K, due to be held today, they could no longer support the event and a lot of Tyneside athletes will be travelling instead to the picturesque Raby Castle venue.

North Eastern Counties AA race permit secretary Kevin Carr is not surprised by the police clamp down on road racing.

He said: "This is not just a North-East problem, it is happening nation-wide as road traffic volume increases and police are naturally worried about the safety of runners on the highway.

"Organising a road race is not as straightforward as it used to be - it is now extremely difficult to stage road races with the blessing of the police."

Sunderland Harriers had to scrap their popular Old Pit races in Silksworth, moving off-road to the Silksworth Sports Centre, while another casualty was the Houghton Feast 10K, now moved to country paths at Hetton.

Last weekend runners flocked to the traffic-free Pier to Pier race between South Shields and Sunderland, using cliff top paths and the beached at Whitburn and Seaburn before finishing on the sands at Roker, attracting an entry of nearly 700 runners.

Today's race at Raby Castle gets under way at 11.15, with late entries available at £8 (club runners) and £9 (unattached).

Last year's inaugural winner, Sunderland Harrier Tim Field, is recovering from injury and is unable to defend his title.

l Commonwealth triple jump silver-medallist Phillips Idowu - tipped as Jonathan Edwards' natural successor - returns from a long-term injury to compete in Hungary this weekend.

Idowu has fully recovered from a knee operation which kept him out of action all last summer and he will represent England in the five nations match against the host country, Norway, Ukraine, Wales and Serbia.

''I decided to take the whole year out, instead of coming back to show my face and be under par,'' said Idowu, one of a handful of jumpers to have beaten Edwards.