Deal Tri Club officials are "keeping their fingers crossed" that Sunday’s Deal Half-Marathon will go ahead as planned.

Two years ago the race had to be postponed and held at a later date because of bad weather and race organiser Jill Cliff (pictured) is hoping that last weekend’s snowfall, or a fresh fall over the next few days, will not cause a repeat this year.

She said: "At the moment we are planning to go ahead as normal, and if it just warms up a bit and the ice clears then we will be all right. But it’s just a case of keeping our fingers crossed."

The race, which starts and finishes at Fowlmead Country Park, has so far attracted nearly 400 entries and Cliff expects the final figure, with runners able to enter on the day, will be over the 500 mark.

The main sponsors this year are Adamsons-Skoda of Walmer and Cliff said: "They are going to lead the runners out of Fowlmead in a Skoda and then lead the race winners back in again, so that’s something a little bit different this year."

Apart from the main race, which starts at 10.30am, there is a 1500m junior (under-17) fun run starting at 10.40am, and again competitors can enter on the day.

Entry fees for the half marathon are: UK Athletics members £12; Others £14; On the day £15. The fee for the junior fun run is £2. For more details, see the Deal Tri Club website at www.dealtri.co.uk