There will be no dawdling at the back when a team of young athletes tackles the junior version of the Great North Run this weekend.

The six members of the Kendal-based Helm Hill Running Club are planning to tackle the three-mile race in the North East on Saturday, October 5 - the day before the legendary Great North Run.

South Lakeland runners Joshua and Rosie Parkinson, Gemma Crowther, Thomas and Jonathon Wright will all be running for the Leukaemia Research Fund while Kirsty Chaplow will run for Brain Tumour Research.

The race starts and finishes at the north side of Gateshead Mill Bridge and the event will be broadcast on CBBC Live.

The young runners will be spurred on by parents and supporters as well as the chart-topping band S Club Juniors which has been booked to entertain the crowds on the day.

The group of fell-running friends have been training hard with their running club and are all hoping to make good times on the day.

Joshua and Rosie' s Mum Val Parkinson said: "It will be the biggest event that most of them have ever taken part in.

It was their idea to give it a go.They had seen it advertised and on children's television.

There will be all sorts going on during the day and they are all really looking forward to it."