All you need to know about Great Manchester Run

Huge crowds are expected for the Great Manchester Run on Sunday with thousands of runners signed up to take part.

Elite athletes will line up alongside fun runners for either the 10km (6.1 miles) race or the longer half-marathon course.

People have been urged to carefully plan their journeys into the city centre as many major roads will be closed for much of the day.

Both the 10k and half-marathon courses start on Portland Street in the city centre and move down into Trafford to loop around Manchester United's ground.

This includes a lap of the Imperial War Museum and Salford Quays before a grandstand finish at Deansgate.

More than 150,000 spectators are expected to line the streets in support.

Double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes returns to the starter's platform for the elite women's race.

Rugby league star and fundraiser for motor neurone disease (MND) Kevin Sinfield, and actor, writer, producer and Alzheimer's Society ambassador Sally Lindsay MBE are also set to race.

A staggered start will be used for the 10k race, which gets underway at 11:30, with the elite races starting later.

A significant number of road closures are in place on the day, and organisers have advised people against travelling through the affected areas.

Drivers have been warned of congestion and delays to journeys, with full details of the road closures can be found on Bee Network.

Transport for Greater Manchester has said travelling by tram will be the best choice on race day to avoid delays to your journey as a result of road closures and bus diversions.

The nearest stops to the start line on Portland Street are Piccadilly Gardens, St Peter's Square, and Deansgate-Castlefield.

Several buses will also be diverted, while transport bosses have also warned that Metrolink tram services will be very busy.

A whole series of accompanying activities events and entertainment will be taking place along the routes.

The event is also being broadcast live on BBC Two from 11:00 BST to 13:00.

Water stations will be available at various stages for the runners.

On course showers for participants to run through are available on Ashton Old Road.

Participants are also advised not to gulp water when they either take advantage of the water stations of after they are given a free water bottle at the end of their run.

Anyone who registered after 10:00 BST on 20 May will not get their number in the post so should collect it at the information points.

Collection is open on Saturday at Great Northern Square between 10:00 and 16:00, while on Sunday collection is between 07:00 and 15:00 outside Central Library in St Peter's Square.

Bag storage is available by Manchester Central, but organisers have suggested participants leaving bags and belongings with friends and family.

Friends or family can send messages of support and encouragement in advance which will be flashed up at a motivation zone as runner go past..

Once finished, runners are encouraged to move as quickly as possible to the event area to meet family and friend.

This year's event is full but booking are already open for next year.

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