Several closures to a Wiltshire town’s main roads will be in force as runners take on the half marathon challenge.

The Chippenham Half Marathon will take place on Sunday, September 17, and will see hundreds of local runners attempt to finish the 13.1 mile race.

During the morning and early afternoon, several key roads including the A420 Bristol Road, Park Lane, New Road, The Causeway and London Road will shut to all traffic.

More than 800 runners have registered for the race, ranging from ages 17 to 78, with participants flocking from as far as Sweden and the USA to take part.

The race will begin near Chippenham Sports Centre on Bristol Road, at 9.30am, and will see runners race through the town centre before heading into the rural villages surrounding the town.

They will pass through the villages of Stanley, Tytherton Lucas, East Tytherton, West End Kellaways and Langley Burrell before looping round to where they started.

The first runners are expected to complete the race at around 10.35am.

Race director Matthew Hurcum revealed he was looking forward to what has become one of the town’s most memorable yearly sporting events.

He said: “We’d like to thank everyone who has registered to take part in what has become one of the town’s biggest sporting events. 

“We’ve got an amazing mix of runners… the corporate category has attracted interest too, with teams from Hardenhuish School and sponsors Good Energy. 

“Everyone has been training hard for a long time, so we’d love to see lots of people cheering them along the route.” 

Full list of road closures

  • Parking restrictions will be on place on A420 Bristol Road from the Folly Roundabout to Chippenham Sports Club on the evening of Saturday, September 16.
  • 9am – 10.15am A420 Bristol Road closed to all through traffic from the Folly Roundabout to Woodlands Road.
  • At 9.30am all of Bristol Road, Park Lane, New Road, The Causeway, and London Road to the junction with Pewsham Way, will close until the runners have passed through and it is safe to reopen.
  • 10am to 1pm Hill Corner Road and Malmesbury Road will be closed from Hardenhuish Lane to the junction with Park Lane and Langley Road.
  • Stanely Lane and the route through the surrounding villages will remain open but drivers are asked to avoid this area from 10am to noon due to the large number of runners expected.
  • Traffic will be asked to let runners cross B4069 Swindon Road at Hill Corner Road from around 10.15am until 12.30pm.