BOLTON Harriers are on course to beat last year’s number of entries for next week’s Bolton 10k.

Organisers initially feared they could be heading for a low turnout due to online technical problems hitting entries.

But a story in The Bolton News clarifying the issue helped to spark an increase, and by Tuesday there were more than 500 people committed to running.

That is just 60 below last year’s figure at the same stage of an event which has increased in participation year on year in recent times.

People can enter the race, which starts and finishes at the Harriers’ Leverhulme Park track a week on Sunday, either online or by post and can get details at www.bolton10k.org.

The man to beat will again be Tony Valentine who this week confirmed he will be defending his title and going for his fourth victory in the event.