Places for Chippenham Half Marathon have sold out two months before race day.

More than 400 of the 1,800 places available for the half marathon, voted single best road race in the country, by readers of Runner’s World magazine, sold in just 30 days.

But the popularity of the race, which is sponsored by the Gazette and Herald, will not lead to the expansion of the event.

Race committee member Kevin Napier said: “It would be very easy to stuff more people into the race but that is the main complaint people have of other races around the country.

“We would never do that just to make money.”

“If nothing else it would not be safe, and it would make the event less enjoyable for the runners.”

The half marathon is the third to be run by Chippenham Harriers Running Club and takes place on Sunday, September 12.

The pleasant setting of the race, combined with the largely level course, has enabled people with a variety of running experience to take part.

Among the 1,800 runners will be mum Lindsay Bridges, who is raising money in memory of her two-year-old son who died in January. Little Alfie suffered from the rare genetic disease Mitochondrial Complex III Deficiency, and as a result he could not walk, speak or eat unaided.

Miss Bridges, 31, took part in the half marathon last year, and again will raise funds for the Newcastle Biomedicine Research, into the disease.