ROAD runners said today that they are definitely prepared to meet Felixstowe’s police chief to discuss possible ways of saving the town’s half marathon.

Insp Steve Gallant wants the Felixstowe Road Runners to look at alternative routes for the 13-mile race because he says the current circuit around the town, which competitors lap twice, is too dangerous because of traffic.

Organisers of the event are keen to work with the police – but time is running out if they are to agree a new route for this autumn’s race.

Club chairman Richard Farnworth said: “We are quite happy to meet Insp Gallant and see what ideas he has for a possible route and give him our views on different routes and take it from there.

“We hope to meet him next week or the week after so we can make a decision.”

Deputy mayor Mike Deacon, a road runner who has taken part in the half marathon, is also to be invited take part in the meeting.

The aim is to sit round a table with a map and look at potential routes where quieter roads could be closed, taking the race away from the busy Walton and centre of town areas.

Mr Farnworth said he was overwhelmed and delighted by the amount of support the club had received from other clubs and in the Evening Star’s letters pages through the paper’s Save the Felixstowe Half Marathon campaign.

Insp Gallant said increases in traffic and the number of runners over the years had made the risk too great.

Felixstowe Road Runners have offered to restrict the number of runners and also to bring forward the time of the race to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum, but the police were still not happy and said a new safer route was the only option.

? Give us your views on the future of the Felixstowe half marathon – write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN, or email eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk