ORGANISERS of this year's Taunton Marathon and Half Marathon are urging runners to sign up for the race.

They have extended the closing date to register by a week as numbers are down on previous years.

Race director John Lewis believes potential runners could be put off by Covid fears and has put the entry date back a week to next Monday (March 28).

Mr Lewis said: "It’s clear runners are still wary about entering races too far ahead.

"This must be partly down to Covid and also the possibility of injury at one event preventing them taking part in the next.

"Our numbers are down on previous years, so we’re giving runners another weekend to get an entry in with us.”

The races are on Sunday, April 3, and are organised by Taunton Carnival Committee and sponsored by Ashfords Solicitors and Nuffield Health.

They start and finish at the Bridgwater and Taunton College, in Wellington Road, and take in roads via the town centre, Norton Fitzwarren, Oake, Bradford-on-Tone and Bishop's Hull.

To enter online or download a form for either distance CLICK HERE.