RUNNERS are preparing for a 10km race in a North Yorkshire village.

Villagers at Tholthorpe, near Easingwold, have organised the road race for the last 19 years, and the event is part of the North Yorkshire Championships, with about 250 runners taking part, and all proceeds going to the village hall.

This year's event is due to take place on September 7, but organisers have discovered they were facing an unexpected problem.

Stuart Morley, race assistant, said: "This year we are up against the Great North Run, which brought its date forward a week after our date had been set in race calendars. Many runners used our race as a last training run before the race, and now we will suffer a lower entry number as a result of the clash.

"The race is the only large fundraiser in the village, which depends on over 70 villagers and friends to help on the day. We're only 300 strong in the village, so you can see how much of an effort it is."

Places are still available for the event, and villagers have urged anyone thinking of taking on a 10km run to join them.

To find out more go to tholthorpe10k.co.uk