POPULAR running event, the Commonweal 5 Mile, is back for a fourth year and open for registrations.

This year’s event, organised again by Commonweal School’s Parent Teacher Association, is due to start at 10.30am on May 17.

It is hoped to attract more than 250 recreational and club runners from across Swindon.

Waitrose are backing the run for a second year, with several staff volunteers organising the half-way water station, handing out bananas at the finish, and providing vouchers as spot prizes.

Simon Adkins, Waitrose Swindon department manager, said: “We’ll be offering our services to support this great community event which promotes a healthy lifestyle and passes right in front of our Wichelstowe store.”

Richard James Estate Agents are also backing the event by sponsoring technical running T-shirts given to all race finishers.

Sam Shenton, business development manager at Richard James, said: “We are keen to get actively involved with a variety of local events. A number of our staff are taking part, and we’ll be handing out running T-shirts at the finish.

“We hope Commonweal 5 runners enjoy wearing them over the summer as much as we’ll enjoy spotting them.”

The PTA will be serving refreshments and all proceeds will be donated to Commonweal School to support new and existing projects.

The course will appeal to mixed ability runners from across the town – ranging from the novice jogger who wants the satisfaction of completing the course, to the more seasoned competitor.

The race starts on the Old Town railway path and heads across the canal bridge near Rushy Platt before looping back along the recently opened link road towards Wichelstowe.

The course then weaves its way around the new lakes and alongside the new stretch of canal in Wichelstowe before a short climb up to the railway path, returning back to the finish line in the school’s playing field via footpaths between Field Rise and Roman Crescent.

Everyone over the age of 15 is eligible to enter, but due to the quality of the running surfaces along certain stretches of the route, the race is not suitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs.

Entry costs £10 for UK Athletics-affiliated runners and £12 for unaffiliated runners. Visit www.commonweal5.co.uk or Facebook at Commonweal 5 Mile for more information