JO Pavey has pulled out of Sunday's BUPA Great North Run with a groin injury.

Pavey, who finished fourth in what was her road running debut over the half marathon distance at last year's event, admits she is disappointed not to be competing on Tyneside - where fellow Briton Paula Radcliffe will make her long-awaited return to competitive action.

The Commonwealth 5,000m silver medallist said: "I'm absolutely gutted, I was really looking forward to returning for the Great North Run which was a big stepping stone for me last year.

"I picked it (the groin injury) up almost a fortnight ago, when deciding to train on grass, I accidentally slipped and it has hampered my training considerably.

"I've had first class treatment but I am not ready to do myself justice and a fast race like this could cause more problems."

Pavey won the BUPA Great South Run over ten miles in Portsmouth last October and this year she also claimed victory in the BUPA Great Manchester Run, where she narrowly defeated Aniko Kalovics over 10km.

Hungary's Kalovics and Kara Goucher, who edged out Pavey for the 10,000m bronze medal at last month's World Championships in Osaka, are also entered for Sunday's 13.1-mile race.

Pavey has yet to make a decision on whether she will be fit to compete for the Norwich Union Great Britain team at the IAAF World Road Running Championships in Udine, Italy, on October 14.