MORE than 6,000 runners are preparing to pound the streets of York next Sunday when the Asda Foundation York 10K is staged.

The race, which is sponsored by organisations including The Press, is set to raise tens of thousands of pounds for charity, with participants able to raise money for any of their choice.

However, runners are particularly being encouraged to support the event's official partner charities, which this year are the Jane Tomlinson Appeal, Brain Tumour Research and Support, Clic Sargent, Macmillan, Martin House Children’s Hospice, St Leonard’s Hospice, Sue Ryder, Yorkshire Cancer Research, Candlelighters and York Teaching Hospital Charity.

Organisers, Jane Tomlinson’s Run For All, are advising runners, spectators, residents and visitors that a number of the city's roads will be closed or have access restricted during the event, and even from noon on the day before on a small number of roads, as part of the setting up operations.

Knavesmire Road will be closed between its junction with Tadcaster Road and Knavesmire Crescent from noon on Saturday until 4pm on Sunday, said a spokeswoman.

"Parking restrictions will also be in operation on Knavesmire Road, Racecourse Road, Bishopthorpe Road, Vine Street, Butcher Terrace and Priory Street between 4pm on Saturday until 4pm on Sunday," she said.

"Elsewhere, from 5pm on Friday until 4pm on Sunday, there will be parking suspensions on Knavesmire Road from Tadcaster Road to Knavesmire Crescent.

"On Sunday, most roads around the 10K route will be closed from 8:30am until noon including Bishopthorpe Road, Coney Street, Skeldergate from Terry Avenue to Bishopgate Street and Minsters Yard from Duncombe Place to Deangate.

"Knavesmire Road from Tadcaster Road to Campleshon Road will be closed from 4am until 2pm and the whole of Racecourse Road will be closed from 6am until 2pm."

Event lead Keith Taylor said: “The York 10K is enormously popular and we are grateful to all those who give us their support.

"With such a big event some disruption is inevitable but we aim to keep road closures and restrictions to an absolute minimum. We apologise for any inconvenience and thank people for their patience.”