A MOTOR neurone disease sufferer will be firing the starting pistol at the second Leigh Community 10K on Sunday.

Kevin Lowe, from Tyldesley, will have the duty of starting the race at 9.30am for the hundreds of people taking part in the event.

The 69-year-old is a patient at Wigan and Leigh Hospice in Hindley, which is the main charity for the race and cares for more than 1,100 people with a life-limiting illness every year.

He goes to the hospice's Oak Centre, which is open to visitors three days a week.

Kevin said: “Mandy at the Oak Centre mentioned that there was an opportunity to be the racestarter for the Leigh 10K and I thought it was something different and something I might not get asked to do ever again.

"The grandkids are coming down to see me too and I’m really looking forward to it.”

The run will start and finish at Leigh Town Hall.

It will involve two laps of the town centre.

Closures will be in place on Market Place, The Avenue, Lord Street and Princess Street between 9am and 11am on the day.

There will be one-way traffic between these hours on Holden Road, Manchester Road, Chapel Street, Guest Street, College Street, East Bond Street and Platt Fold Street.

A market will be set up on Civic Square from 9am until noon which will include stalls selling food, drinks, crafts and gifts.

To sign up for the Leigh Community 10K visit leigh10k.co.uk.

Registration will close once 1,000 people have signed up for it.

The event is sponsored by Bithells Waste Management Ltd, Leigh Neighbours Project, Eldercare and Intertek.

It has been organised in a partnership with Inspiring health lifestyles, FCR Events Ltd, Leigh Harriers, Nector Creative, Wigan and Leigh Hospice and Wigan Council.