TOP athletes will head for Durham later this month to take part in the View From National English Cross County Championships.

The city is expected to host more than 6,000 runners at the event, which is in its 125th year.

Durham City Council chief executive Colin Shearsmith said: "It's an honour to host such a prestigious event.

"Durham City will give a warm welcome to the many thousands of visitors to Maiden Castle. We are using the same venue we provided for the World Cross Country Championships in 1995."

The president of the English Cross Country Association, George Ogle, who is from the North-East, said: "There isn't a more dramatic, attractive landscape anywhere in the country to compete with Durham City."

Races begin at 11.30am and end at 4.30pm. Thirty-four North-East clubs will take part