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Yeovil Half Marathon will go ahead despite the growing spread of novel coronavirus COVID-19, organisers say.

Hundreds of runners are expected to take to the streets of Yeovil and surrounding areas for the event on March 29.

Yeovil Beer Festival was cancelled on Wednesday (March 11) due to concerns over the spread COVID-19.

However organisers of Yeovil Half Marathon said today (Thursday, March 12) they are closely monitoring the virus situation, but are currently anticipating the event will go ahead as planned.

A spokesman for the 13-mile run said: "We are looking forward to hosting the 10th anniversary of the Yeovil Half Marathon on Sunday, March 29.

"Following specific advice for UK event organisers from the deputy chief medical officer we do not currently anticipate any changes to the event.

"We are monitoring the situation closely and will update our runners should this situation change."

As of 9am on Thursday (March 12), 27,476 people had been tested for coronavirus in the UK, of which 456 people had tested positive for the virus, including 44 in the South West, and eight British patients who tested positive for COVID-19 had died.

The Yeovil Half Marathon is planned to get underway at 9am, and this year it is celebrating its tenth anniversary.

A number of roads will be closed around Yeovil throughout the morning as participants navigate the course.

The route begins in the town centre before heading out into Yeovil County Park.

The course then leaves the town on the western side and heads for Montacute House, before returning to Yeovil.