A RUNNER who was diagnosed with epilepsy has urged people to sign up for this year's Epilepsy Action Bradford 10k.

Joe Townsend, 25, is the face of this year's race on Sunday, September 27, after being diagnosed with epilepsy in September last year.

The event will see around 1,700 runners take to the streets of Bradford for the flat course, which starts and finishes in Centenary Square.

The course takes in Canal Road, Stanley Road, Gaisby Lane and Valley Road before returning back to the city centre.

But Mr Townsend's diagnosis has not stopped him as he completed his first-ever London Marathon in April in a time of two hours 23 minutes.

He finished 11th in the mass start and has now been picked as part of England Athletics' six-strong team for the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on Sunday, October 18.

Mr Townsend, a journalist who lives in Woodlesford, Leeds, says he is looking to beat the current Bradford 10k course record of 31 minutes two seconds set by Tesfaye Debele in 2013.

He said: "It is a really good race for people to do to support those who have epilepsy.

"This is a good opportunity for people to raise money for Epilepsy Action.

"So much has happened because of it. Something good has come out of it as I would never have run the London Marathon or been picked for England.

"I had a really difficult couple of months after I was diagnosed. I was a runner before I found out I had epilepsy.

"I'm looking to win it. Just because I have epilepsy does not mean that I can't go out and run the 10k, or marathons or achieve anything else. It should be no barrier to achieve things."

This year's Epilepsy Action 10k was moved from March after it was postponed due to roadworks on Canal Road. But the race, which starts at 9am, will return to its traditional March slot from next year, at a date still to be fixed.

September's race is part of Bradford Athletics Network's 'Active Autumn', which also includes Sky Ride Bradford on Sunday, September 20, and the Bradford City Runs on Sunday, October 25.

This year, Yeadon-based charity Epilepsy Action is offering a £50 prize to the first runner who can beat the current record time and finish the race in under 30 minutes.

Race entry is £20, or £18 for runners affiliated to a UK athletics running club. The closing date for entries is Thursday, September 24.

Prizes are awarded for both males and females placed first, second and third and for winners of the veterans' categories. Each finisher will get a free T-shirt.

To sign up for the 10k, go to epilepsy.org.uk/bradford10k or call 0113 2108881.