Cheer on the runners

RESIDENTS are being urged to support the return of Oldham’s half marathon this weekend as around 300 runners tackle the gruelling route.

Organisers of the charity race, brought back to the town by Oldham Community Leisure and Oldham Citizens Advice Bureau, are asking locals to line the route to cheer on the runners on Sunday.

They will be sent on their way around the 13-mile course by Oldham’s Mayor, Councillor Olwen Chadderton, who will officially start the race at 9.30am from Oldham Sports Centre.

The race was last held in 2009, before Metrolink works forced it to take a break.

The hilly, circular route starts in the town centre before going up Huddersfield Road and Ripponden Road to Delph. It then heads back into Oldham by Lees Road and the linear path.

The half marathon is known as the “Mill Town to Moors” because of its town and country route.

Traffic disruption will be kept to a minimum, with temporary road closures and minor delays at the start of the race, including no vehicle access to Lord Street from 9am to 9.45am. The traffic lights at the Cross Street junction will be held on red until the runners pass through at about 9.30am.