THE 2019 Oxford Half Marathon will follow the same route around the city this year as before – despite moves to change it.

About 8,600 people took on the 13.1-mile route from Broad Street last October, running to Summertown, Old Marston and back to the city centre.

Council papers show Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council and race organisers Virgin Sport had looked at different routes.

They asked police, firefighters and bus companies what they thought of the new route – but it was rejected on the basis it would have had a ‘more negative impact on the city and its residents’.

Read again: Places at this year's Oxford Half to be decided by ballot

Louise Upton, the council 'board member for healthy Oxford', said: “It has been confirmed by the county council that the current route has the least impact on the highway network in Oxford.”

Just three people complained to authorities about the half marathon and its impact last year, she added.

Virgin Sport will run the half marathon for a third time on October 13 – but a ballot will decide who gets a place.

Last year, 12,000 runners signed up to take part – with a large minority of those not turning up – but Virgin Sport said any more would ‘negatively impact the runner experience’.

Studies found about £1m is spent in Oxford as a result of the half marathon, according to the city council.