ROADS across Colchester will be closed today as the Colchester Half Marathon returns.

Celebrating its 11th iteration, the 13.1-mile race, which starts and finishes at the JobServe Community Stadium, in United Way, Colchester, will see thousands of runners and spectators take to the city’s streets.

Several roads will be closed for more than four hours while participants clock up the miles.

Gazette: Thousands of runners and spectators will line the city's streetsThousands of runners and spectators will line the city's streets


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Which roads will be closed for the Colchester Half Marathon?

Gazette: Closures - These roads will be closedClosures - These roads will be closed (Image: The Robin Cancer Trust)

The roads surrounding the football stadium, including United Way, Boxted Road, Nayland Road, and Mile End Road will be closed.

Station Way will be closed from the North Station roundabout to the Essex Hall roundabout.

Roads between the Essex Hall roundabout and High Street will also be closed. This includes North Station Road, Middleborough, and North Hill.

As the race heads out of the city centre, East Hill and East Street will also be closed.

Runners will then head towards Highwoods, closing Ipswich Road between East Street and Severalls Lane.

Severalls Lane will be closed between Ipswich Road and Wyncolls Road, and between The Crescent and Langham Lane.

Wyncolls Road and The Crescent will also be closed.

Gazette: Route - The 13.1-mile race goes through ColchesterRoute - The 13.1-mile race goes through Colchester (Image: The Robin Cancer Trust)

In Langham, Langham Lane, Moor Road, High Street, and Old Mill Road will be closed.

Dedham Road, Boxted, will be closed between Old Mill Road and Straight Road.

As runners finish the race and return to the football stadium, Boxted Road will be closed between Straight Road and United Way.

These closures are in place between 8.45am and 1pm today via a rolling roadblock.

Access for emergency vehicles and pedestrians will be maintained at all times during the half marathon.

This year’s event is being organised by The Robin Cancer Trust, with support from the Running Colchester community – with all proceeds helping fund the charity's life-saving awareness, education and support programmes for young people affected by germ cell cancer.

Its founder Toby Freeman said: “We’re incredibly proud to continue the legacy of the Colchester Half Marathon for the people of Colchester.

"This is one of the biggest events in the Essex race calendar, and it’s inspirational to see runners achieve their first half-marathon, personal best, or cross the finish line in memory of a loved one.

"The vital funds this event will raise will help us continue our life-saving work across the region – raising awareness of cancers in schools, colleges, and universities; educating, and engaging young people with our cancer campaigns online, and supporting those affected by germ cell cancer during the most difficult time of their lives.

"We can’t wait to see all the runners at the start line on Sunday – and we invite the people of Colchester to come and cheer them on as they take on this challenge!”