BURNDEN Road Runners stage their fifth annual club race, the Trotters 5, on Sunday, March 1.

First run in 2011 the race is still in its infancy but has been a hit with local runners since it began.

Part of the Central Lancs Grand Prix which is now in its 26th year, the race limit 500 and people can find out more by visiting the club's website.

The race saw an increase from 176 runners in the first year to 311 two years ago.

A slight drop to 292 last year is hoped to be rectified this year as the club look to continue to establish the race on the Bolton club run calendar along with the likes of the Bolton Harrier 10k and the Lostock AC six-miler.

The male course record was set by Marc Tillotson of Bolton Harriers in its inaugural year with a time of 27mins 14secs which was equalled by Tarus Ely of Salford Harriers in 2013, while Horwich Harrier Tom Carson ran 27:49 to win last year's race.

The ladies course record was set in 2013 by Rachel Jones of Horwich RMI with a time of 31:14 and last year it was won by Catherine O'Dwyer of Bolton Harriers in 31:39.

The race is a two-lap route around Smithills Country Park.

It starts around Smithills Coaching house and goes out towards Smithills Dean Road, up Smithills Dean Road as opposed to the usually coast down it.

It then turns off before meandering through Smithills Country Park and round the outskirts of a housing estate.

This year, due to continued building work around the area, the club has taken the decision to run the route in reverse to ensure a narrowing at the start does not affect runners and they will be suitably thinned out by the time runners get there in reverse.

This is Burnden Road Runners' 30th year of running and the club has lots of planned events to celebrate including a dinner dance at the Macron Stadium and a relay from the Macron to Blackpool on June 21.