RUNNERS are being urged to start preparing for the Darlington 10K Road Run.

The annual event takes place on Sunday, August 8, with organisers hopeful of avoiding a repeat of the downpour that affected last year's competition.

An entry form is published on Page 24 of today's Northern Echo, and more information will be available throughout the day in the Dolphin Centre, in the town.

Jeff Dawson, Darlington Borough Council events manager, said: "We have already received a lot of initial interest as to when the entry forms are available, so we are launching the event a little earlier than in previous years.

"We certainly do not expect the same weather as last year, but you never can be too sure."

The popular event is being sponsored by Sherwoods Vauxhall and Daewoo.

Sherwoods' managing director, Alasdair MacConachie, said: "We are delighted to continue as main sponsor to this very established Darlington event.

"Let us hope the weather will be a little kinder to our entrants this year."

The charity run has raised tens of thousands of pounds for good causes since it began in the mid-1980s.