FORMER Cricket umpire Dickie Bird said: “I think York is a beautiful city and I’m so pleased that the marathon is going to be in York because I don’t think they could find a better place.

“I won’t be running but I will be here to support it. I’m so pleased it’s in York – it’s the ideal spot.”

TV pundit Chris Kamara said he would run the York marathon if he could get time off from filming Goals on Sunday for Sky.

He said: “York is a wonderful city isn’t it? I’m looking forward to it.

“We have got some great marathons – the London marathon everyone wants to get involved with, the Great North Run, everyone seems to want to do that, this could live forever and everyone will be talking about York as a great setting.”

Television presenter Harry Gration said: “I think this will be fantastic. I was thrilled to be involved in the 10k in York. To think about the next 18 months for York – there will be the Tour de France and to kick it all off we have the marathon.

“I don’t know if I can do it. I’m tempted, which is all I’m prepared to say at the moment.”

Former England footballer Danny Mills called for Mike Tomlinson to be recognised in next year’s New Years honours list for his tireless efforts for charity.

He said: “He deserves some sort of accolade. It will be a fantastic event, I think what they do is phenomenal.”

Paralympian Hannah Cockroft said: “It’s fantastic we can do it in Yorkshire. It’s so beautiful here in York. We couldn’t have chosen a better place to show off Yorkshire and it should attract a few more people here.”

Actress Claire King said: “I think it will be such a stunning spectacle because of the city of York and the surrounding area.”