MORE than 1,000 runners from eight countries converge on Abingdon tomorrow for the 24th annual Abingdon Marathon - the biggest in Oxfordshire and rated third most popular in the country.

The event - run by Abingdon Amblers Athletics Club and sponsored by paint company Akzo Nobel, based at Milton Park - starts at 9am on Sunday from Tilsley Park, with the wheelchair race starting five minutes later.

Entries for this year's marathon closed in July but such was the demand for places that an extra 100 hundred were added, making a field of 1,100 runners.

Last year's event was voted by runners the third best marathon in the country, behind London and Loch Ness, and the 10th best road race.

The route will take runners on a road course taking in both Abingdon and rural areas around the town.

There will be temporary road closures, with 100 marshals, and police cover.

Apart from the elite runners competing for the championship prizes, there will be fun runners raising thousands of pounds for charity.

For competitors unable to finish the race, vehicles will be ready to take them back to Tilsley Park. Drinks stations will be positioned every three miles.

What began as a fun run 24 years ago organised by Abingdon Lions in collaboration with Radley Ladies has matured over the years into a major event in the athletics calendar. Last year the marathon raised more than £4,000 for local charities.

Money from this year's marathon money will be shared between Sobell House in Oxford and SeeSaw, a charity which provides support to children and young people who have suffered a death in the family.