Ipswich Town legend Simon Milton to take part in Ipswich Half Marathon this weekend

A former Ipswich Town Football Club player will be taking part in the Ipswich Half Marathon.

Simon Milton, a midfielder for The Blues between 1987 and 1998, is one of hundreds of people running in aid of charity at the event.

Taking place on Sunday, the half marathon will take people of all ages across a scenic 13 mile tour of Ipswich.

Starting outside Portman Road Stadium on Russell Road at 9.30am, it takes them across the waterfront, around the surrounding countryside, and within view of the Orwell Bridge.

Charities being fund-raised on behalf of include Jane Tomlinson Appeal, Lighthouse, St Elizabeth Hospice, Fresh Start New Beginning and Home-Start in Suffolk.

Simon said: “Having spent thirty years on and off the pitch at Portman Road, it is a honour to be officially starting the Ipswich Half Marathon.

"Fund-raising is a big passion of mine, so I’m thrilled to support an event where it is the main primary objective.”

The event is being organised by Run For All in partnership with Suffolk County Council and being supported by several businesses in the area.

It is the first event organised by the firm to take place in the county.

The sponsor if this year's event is accounting firm Larking Gowen, which will also sponsor the event for the next three years.

Becky Ames from Larking Gowen said: “We are extremely proud to be supporting the Ipswich Half Marathon. The event really does bring the people of Ipswich together and it’s a great way to highlight the importance of well-being in the community.”

Tristan Batley-Kyle, the operations director at Run For All, said the firm was looking forward to hosting its first event in the county.

He added: “We are really looking forward to be delivering our first event in the county of Suffolk. To be able to bring back such a much-loved event to the community of Ipswich is just fantastic and we really look forward to meeting all of our runners on the start line.