ENTRIES to the ABP Southampton Marathon have quadrupled in October as scores of London marathon hopefuls have signed up for the local event.

Throughout October, people who have applied for a place in the 2018 Virgin London Marathon have been finding out if they have secured a place in the run.

As a result of the ballot, there has been a boost for Southampton’s event, with a sharp rise in the number of people signing up for the full marathon distance.

Race director Chris Rees said: “We’ve had large numbers of people who didn’t secure a place in the London Marathon turning to us as a great alternative.

"The ABP Southampton Marathon takes place just a week after the event in the capital, so it’s providing the perfect option for those who have started their training and don’t want to see it go to waste.”

Next year will be the first time the Southampton marathon will take place on a different date to the London marathon.

The Southampton Marathon is due to take place on Sunday, May 5, and will also feature a half marathon and a 10k distance on the same day.

The route is subject to change and will all be officially measured in accordance to the UKA guidelines.

All races start and finish in the heart of Southampton’s city centre.

The full marathon route will take runners on a 26.2 miles course through closed roads in the centre of Southampton.

The run will also pass by popular Southampton landmarks including Bargate, QE2 Anchor and St Mary's Stadium, as well as the Itchen Bridge which will be closed exclusively for the event.

Chris added: “Entries are looking very healthy for all distances, even at this early stage.

"We’re expecting to see another spike over Christmas and New Year, when historically people set themselves fitness targets for the New Year, so the team’s gearing itself up for a busy festive season.”

To register for any of the distances visit: www.abpsouthamptonhalf.co.uk.