RUNNERS will be getting their head torches on this weekend for a 10k night race around Rivington.

The Petzl Night Runner is a series of three 10k races, taking place in Delamere Forest, Grizedale Forest and finally at Rivington.

More than 250 have joined up for the run and competitors will be in running fancy dress in the theme of “close encounters”.

The course is all on trail and the competitors have to climb for one-mile over rocky paths before a brief downhill respite.

They then climb again up to the Pigeon Tower and around the base of Rivington Pike before beginning to ascend over the moor towards the ‘Two Lads’ and Winter Hill.

There will then be a downhill course to negotiate back to Rivington and Blackrod High School, in Rivington Lane, Bolton which is the starting point of the run.

A spokesman for Epic Events Management LTD, which has organised the race said: “The competitors at the event are all great fun and the atmosphere is friendly at all the events.

“This is the fifth year of the Rivington event.

“It started with less than 100 people taking part and has grown to about 250 now.

“Each race is themed and the competitors really get into the spirit of the theme with some excellent fancy dress efforts.”

Organisers have said that Rivington is the hardest of the three events as it is “the most technical underfoot” and has the most hills.

The route will be marked with running signs and arrow and the trail will also be marked by a series of reflective markers, which will line the full route

A spokesman added: “Absolutely anyone can enter the run, it isn’t just for the experienced. “We have people who will finish in 35 minutes and people who will finish in two hours but whether you

are first or last the reception is always the same on the finish line, with a small army of hard working volunteers to give a huge round of applause and to hand out the hard earned finishers medal.”

Before the adults course begins, there will be a Trail Kidz1k race, which begins at 6.10pm.

The start of the night runner event is at 7pm and there will be a 8.30pm prize presentation.

The cost to enter the night trail running event is £25, which includes a night runner race shirt, finishers medal and bottle of water.

Prizes will also be presented by Petzl for the winners.

The event closes for entries at 12 noon today.

To enter go to: http://bit.ly/2jvbJ81