The 4,000 runners in May 15's Oxford Mail-sponsored Town and Gown fun run will take a route past some of the most famous landmarks in the historic city centre of Oxford.

The start is in Fyfield Road, taking competitors along Parks Road and the picturesque University Parks.

On route, the runners will pass a number of Oxford University's colleges, including Queen's, University, Brasenose, Balliol, Trinity, Wadham, Keble, Mansfield and Manchester.

The historic High Street will be a favourite viewing spot and should bring the usual seasonal sightseers to a standstill, and another good place to watch the runners go by will be on the corner of St Giles and Broad Street.

Competitors are being warned to make sure they arrive in good time for the start of the 10-kilometre event.

The junior race, with about 300 runners, gets under way at 9.45am, with the adult race, with a field of 3,700 entrants, due to start at 10am.

The race organisers are urging people to use public transport, including park-and-ride buses, due to limited car parking in the surrounding streets and the road closures for the fun run. Street parking restrictions will not be relaxed during the event.

Last year, more than £42,000 was raised in sponsorship by competitors, and was shared between the county's Muscular Dystrophy Campaign and the Radcliffe Infirmary's muscular clinic.

The Oxford Mail has donated cash prizes of £200 for the first man and woman crossing the finishing line; £100 for the second places, and £75 for the third placed runners.