Eight-year-old Jack joins the starting line-up in Norfolk run to help diabetes charity

A young runner from King's Lynn will be joining the starters for the Grand East Anglia Run (GEAR) tomorrow to raise money for a diabetes charity because both his parents have the condition.

Jack Wilson, eight, will be running the 1.2-mile course of the mini-GEAR tomorrow morning and hopes to raise money for Diabetes UK.

His parents, Fiona and Tony, both have diabetes and Mr Wilson ran the 10k GEAR course last year.

Mrs Wilson said: 'He did the full course in spite of type-two diabetes and had a few hypos [hypoglycaemia caused by low blood sugar levels] on the way round, which probably spurred Jack on to do the run himself.

'He is a very active boy, and is keeping fit by running to and from school, running around the local park so he shouldn't have a problem completing the course, and we are looking forward to raising as much money as possible for Diabetes UK,' she added.

Mrs Wilson was diagnosed with type-one diabetes in 1991 and said the whole family was very proud of Jack, who attends Reffley Community School.

The mini-GEAR race starts five minutes after the main event at 10.30am.

Around 1,500 runners will be taking part in the 10k run round the town centre in this year's Bespak-sponsored event. Driver are being warned that roads round the town centre will be closed for the duration of the race.

Roads, including London Road, King Street and Queen Street, will be closed from 9.45am until 12.30pm while the race is in progress.

The Tuesday Market Place will be closed to vehicles from 8am until 2pm.

All car parks in the town, except Tuesday Market Place and Common Staithe Quay (behind the Corn Exchange), are open and can be used while the roads are open.

Visitors who are planning to arrive in the town after 9.45am or leave before 12.30pm should use the multi-storey, Albert Street Car Park, Austin Street, Austin Fields, Old Cattle Market (Sainsbury's), Blackfriars Street or Juniper car parks as these will all be accessible throughout the event.