RUNNERS will be converging on the Malvern Hills on Sunday, October 11, for the Worcestershire Beacon Race, one of the high points in the local athletic calendar.

Race director David Waldron said: "This is not a fun run and the race attracts strong support from both club runners and those who want to test themselves against a hard hilly seven-mile multi terrain course."

Originally run in 1953, the race has seen a number of changes since its inception. For 40 years the start was in Grange Road and a number of local roads were used, but as traffic volumes increased the route changed to a more off-road format.

The race now starts in Rosebank Gardens and runners make their way via St Ann's Well and the Goldmine to the Beacon before descending towards West Malvern and returning to the starting point via North Hill and the Sugarloaf.

Past local winners have included Worcestershire running luminaries Dick Cooper, Eric Austin, Dave Walker and Ian Atkins, as well as Billy Nock of Halesowen AC, who has won a number of times in the past 20 years.

To enter, contact worcester-ac.co.uk or the Run Britain websites.