THE final release of places in the second Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon has sold out in only ten minutes.

All the remaining places for the event on Sunday, October 12, were snapped up after the sale opened at 9am yesterday.

The marathon’s priority pre-sale sold out in five hours after the event’s official launch on Friday, when another 1,000 places were also announced.

Now the race has filled up, 7,000 runners will line up for this year’s event.

Organiser Lisa Ashcroft said: “Wow. We thought it was fantastic when last year’s marathon sold out in only three days – to have sold out this year in the space of just a few hours is remarkable.

“Congratulations to everyone who got a place – and thank you for supporting the event. The marathon was a huge success last year and this year’s will be even bigger and better.”

Last year, 6,100 runners tacked the 24-mile route around York and into the surrounding countryside, raising more than £2 million for good causes and contributing an estimated £1 million to the local economy.

The only places now available are through the ultimate season ticket – which includes a place in the marathon and all four Run For All Asda Foundation 10Ks.

Runners can secure a place through some of the 40 charities which have a number of spots in the event, and a waiting list is also now operating.

The marathon’s sponsors Plusnet has recently signed a three-year deal for the event.

The company’s commercial and marketing director, Nick Rawlings, said: “We couldn’t have wished for a better start to the 2014 campaign. It just goes to show that The Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon has already become a ‘must do’ event in the sporting calendar.”

Runners taking part in the marathon are encouraged to raise funds for charity, especially the event’s official partner charities – Martin House Children’s Hospice, Macmillan Cancer Support, Yorkshire Cancer Research, Parkinson’s UK, the Haven, CLIC Sargent, Candlelighters, St Leonard’s Hospice, Sue Ryder Care and the Jane Tomlinson Appeal.