THE annual chance to run through Oxford city centre without dodging cars, bikes or buses is once again on the horizon.

The 28th Oxford Town and Gown 10km fun run, in aid of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, will offer a rare glimpse of historic streets devoid of traffic.

Organiser Annie Jackson said: “It’s a novelty for Oxford that the city centre will have absolutely no traffic on the day, which is pretty rare. All you will hear is the sound of your heart pumping and your breathing labouring – there’s not going to be any sound of engines or traffic.”

The course, which wends its way along High Street, Cornmarket and Broad Street before ending in the University Parks, has a new starting point this year, in order to accommodate more runners and create a carnival atmosphere.

Mrs Jackson said: “The main difference this year is we’re starting in St Cross Road. This year all the runners will be heading out of the South Lodge Gate, rather than the North Lodge Gate near Banbury Road.

“It will be a completely different direction from previous years but there will be lots of signs and no-one will get lost.

“We’re hoping that by starting in St Cross Road it will be a real party atmosphere. We are hoping to have music at the start and the police and county council are quite happy with that because there are no residents where we are starting, so it should be a great start.

“There’s a big hole being dug in the Parks at the moment, so we have moved the finish, but it will be just as professional as it normally is and people will be guaranteed the same quality run.”

Mrs Jackson said one of the attractions of the event was its lack of hills.

She said: “It’s a very fast course. Nobody has yet done it in under 30 minutes but we’re still holding our breath on that.

“It won’t be long before that does happen because the race does attract a lot of elite athletes. The average time to do it in is about an hour. If you do it in under an hour, you’ve done a good run.

She added: “Places are filling up very fast. We’re getting 90 to 100 entries a day and it won’t be long before we will have to close it.”

To enter, fill in and return the form below or see oxfordtownandgown.org tairs@oxfordmail.co.uk