Stafford Half Marathon route to change

The half marathon and one mile fun run will take place on Sunday.

Due to flooding on the Isabel Trail along the section of the route that runs underneath the Eccleshall Road Bridge there will be an amendment to the 13.1-mile course.

Instead of joining the Isabel Trail at Izaak Walton Street the runners will stay on the A34 Stone Road until they reach the Eccleshall Road roundabout and then take the Subway running underneath Greyfriars to Nursery Lane.

The runners will then pick up the Isabel Trail path and return to the town centre finish line as normal.

The course will be re-measured by an official member of the Association of UK Course Measurers to take into account these changes and the start line will be adjusted accordingly.

The road closures in this area will also need to be altered slightly.

The junctions of Holmecroft Road and North Avenue with the Stone Road will now be closed and traffic management will be in operation on Rowley Street.

The northbound section of the Stone Road from the Eccleshall Road roundabout will be for resident access only; two-way traffic will not be affected and operate as normal along the full length of the A5013 Eccleshall Road to and from Junction 14 of the M6 Motorway.

Freedom Leisure’s Liz Hulse, race director for the Stafford Half Marathon said: "We have looked at all possible solutions and explored various options in consultation with Staffordshire Highways and Stafford Borough Council and it was agreed that this was the best way forward and it means that the Stafford Half Marathon goes ahead again in its 37th year.

"We are looking forward to welcoming all the runners and spectators to Stafford once again for this fantastic community event and would like to thank the residents of Stafford for supporting the runners along the 13.1 mile route.”