THIS year's Chester 10k returns to its March date as thousands of runners will take to the start line this Sunday.

Now with a new headline sponsor, the MBNA Chester 10k will see two waves of runners begin at 9am and 9.30am, starting near Chester Racecourse and finishing in the city centre with the Eastgate Clock in the background.

Many competitors will be raising money for the event's chosen charity, Claire House Children's Hospice.

Runners are very unlikely to face the scorching heat that they faced on last year's run, which was delayed until July due to Covid restrictions. Early indications are for temperatures to be around 7-8C, with a mixture of sunshine and showers forecast on Sunday morning.

This year's event will start on Nuns Road, heading out of the city towards Mollington, before returning to the city centre by Chester Town Hall, Chester Cathedral and finishing on Eastgate Street.

There will be a series of road closures throughout the city, while runners are advised there will be no parking available at Chester Racecourse for the event.

Motorists are advised that roads which remain open will likely be busy and delays likely, with diversions in place.

Here are the road closures for the event:

  • Nuns Road and Black Friars: Closed between 4am-2pm.
  • Northgate Street, between Chester Town Hall and Eastgate Street; St Werburgh Street, Watergate Street, Eastgate Street, between Chester Cross and St Werbugh Street; Bridge Street: Closed between 5.30am-1.30pm
  • Stanley Street and City Walls Road (between Stanley Street and Lower Watergate Street): Closed between 8.30am-9.45am.
  • Access to the city centre will always be available via Sealand Road and New Crane Street, except for a short period between the two race starts. Organisers aim to close this section of road between 8.58- 9.10am and again at 9.28am-9.40am.
  • Stadium Way: Closed between 8.30am-10am.
  • Residents living between the canal and Greyhound Retail Park, eg in Whipcord Lane, Gladstone Avenue, Catherine Street, Finchett Drive and Gladstone Road, will be able to leave via Sealand Road before 8.30am and as soon as it is safe to do so after each start wave.
  • Stadium Way, north of the Whipcord Lane junction; Cheyney Road, Parkgate Road, between the Aldi Roundabout and the junction with Overwood Lane: Closed between 8.30am-11.30am.
  • Parkgate Road, north of Overwood Lane to the A494/A5117 bypass: Closed between 8.30am-11.30am. Access to the Wheatsheaf pub and residents only.
  • Townfield Lane and Old Townfield Lane: Closed between 8.45am-11.30am.
  • A5480, between Cheyney Road and Aldi Roundabout; Blacon Avenue, east of the police station; Countess Way, west of Countess Court; Parkgate Road, south of the Aldi Roundabout; Bouverie Street, Walpole Street, Garden Lane: Closed between 8.45am-11.30am.
  • Raymond Street, Canal Street: Closed between 9am-11.30am.
  • Northgate Street, between Canal Street and Chester Town Hall; Hunter Street: Closed between 9am-noon.

Access to Chester Cathedral will be available before 9am and after noon.

If you live on the route and know you will need to leave by car during the road closures, organisers advise that you move your car away from affected road before the closure starts.

Mollington residents will have access and egress via Station Road and Well Lane or northbound only on Parkgate Road via Overwood Lane.

If you are travelling into the city, please use Liverpool Road, Hoole Way, the A51, Grosvenor Road routes to avoid the closed roads. Sealand Road will be remain open after 9.40am.

Residents of Bouverie Street north of Garden Lane can exit via West Lorne Street onto Chichester Street.

Residents of Raymond Street are advised to park south of the junction with Canal Street, and will be able to exit on Tower Road to New Crane Street, except for the short periods when runners are passing.

Residents of Mollington can access Chester or the Wirral using Station Lane to get onto the A41. To access Saughall use either Overwood Lane or Coalpit Lane.

Abbots Park residents should enter and exit via Liverpool Road.

Road closures do not apply to pedestrians. If you are on the run route please take care as there will be race vehicles on the route.