MORE than one thousand runners are set to take part in the 36th Taunton Marathon event this weekend.

The marathon and half marathon will kick off at 10.30am on Sunday morning from Bridgwater and Taunton College.

A number of road closures will be in place to allow the runners to safely pass through the town.

Traffic will be stopped in Wellington Road in both directions for about 15 minutes from 10.25am to allow the runners to leave the off-road start line at Bridgwater & Taunton College at 10.30am prompt. As the pack passes along Tangier Way and Bridge Street vehicles will be held at the various junctions to let them all through. Once out towards Staplegrove runners will begin to spread out and traffic will be able to pass with care.

Silk Mills Road will be closed to through traffic from 10.30am to 3pm in both directions between Heron Drive and Bindon Road. This will allow the runners to come safely out of Netherclay Lane and get across Silk Mills Road. The road is open at the Bishops Hull end for two way traffic to Heron Drive, with access to St Margaret’s Hospice and Abbeyfield. Diverted traffic will travel through the town centre or Tangier Way.

The bridge at Bradford-on-Tone is a pinchpoint, with traffic being seriously affected as runners tackle the single lane structure. This year the bridge will be closed between 11am and 1pm to all traffic. The diversion is via Nynehead.

Drivers in Bishops Hull itself are asked to follow a voluntary one-way system that flows with the runners, down Bishops Hull Hill and Netherclay Lane, but up Waterfield Drive.

All other roads are open during the event. Motorists are asked to be co-operative and patient as any delays will be of a relatively short duration.