FINAL preparations are underway ahead of this Sunday’s newly-relaunched half marathon - including making sure the town is aware of essential road closures.

The 13.1 mile route will take almost 2,700 runners past some of Swindon’s most iconic landmarks including the Magic Roundabout, the County Ground, the Oasis, the Railways, the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet as well as Old Town before a downhill finish into the town centre, where crowds will be cheering on runners over the finishing under the big screen in Wharf Green.

Months of hard work has been put into the revamped event which hopes to cater for all ages and abilities, offering plucky competitors a flatter and faster route compared to previous years.

Now, with just days to go, organisers are sending out one last call to the town to make sure they don't get caught out by the closures which will come into force from 10am on Sunday at the County Ground ahead of the start at 11am.

Advanced warning signs have been put out around various roads including Queen's Drive, Coate roundabout, Dorcan Way, Swindon Road, Bridge End Road, Cirencester Way, Great Western Way, Polaris Way, North Star Avenue, Newcombe Drive, Bruce Street Bridges, Kemble Drive, Penzance Drive, Wootton Bassett Road, Redpost Drive, Peglars Way, Foxham Way, Black Horse Way, Pipers Way, Marlborough Road, Wood Street, Victoria Road, Regents Circus, Commercial Road and lastly Wharf Green.

As the race has a split start finish, this will mean that rather than closing off the whole route at the same time, the roads will only be closed in the direction of the runners, so passage by car in the opposite direction is possible.

It also means that as the race is split into 16 sections, roads will reopen once the last runner has passed each ending point and there will also be manned crossings to allow vehicles to pass when possible.

Graeme Hardie, one of the race directors, said: “Towns and cities get used to having road closures in place for the entire day and so that is why we have planned Sunday around it.

"Swindon’s half marathon is brand new and we want this race to not just be amazing for the runners but we want the town to embrace it and our commitment to the town is to have as minimal impact as possible.

“We know there will be traffic problems because of the closures – we are not naïve. We know for the first couple years of the event it might be a bit chaotic because it is such a new event but we hope people get behind it.

“We’ve managed to put this race together within 10 months and usually it takes a good 24 months to organise.

“I believe we have done a good job with the time we have had. For me, once the last person has cross the finishing then then it will be the best feeling knowing everyone has had a good time. The harder it is in the run up to the race, the better that feeling will be once it finishes.

“On the safety side of the race, we have overcompensated it to make sure the race runs smoothly.

"We have made sure there are crossings for cars to cross when there is a space in runners and we will have marshals, security guards and police officers there on the day."

As well as getting the word out about the closures, organisers are also on the lookout for another 30 marshals to help out on the day.

Individuals willing to donate a few hours of their time won't need any experience, as training will be provided, and they will also get a free slot to next year's race.

While entries for the race have closed, there are 75 places up for grabs on the day of the half marathon but only on a first come first served basis.

For information about becoming a marshal, email leigh@newswindonhalf.co.uk