The chairman of the council will play a double role in the South Bucks 10K race this weekend as he prepares to compete and present the prizes to the winners at the end.

Cllr Duncan Smith – who heads up South Bucks District Council – will compete in the South Bucks Road Race at Black Park on Sunday, October 2 to raise money for South Bucks Hospice.

The councillor hopes to finish the race in under 50 minutes and quickly change into his suit ready to present the prizes to the winners.

Cllr Smith said: “I hope to finish in under 50 minutes so I should have time to change, weather permitting, into my formal suit and chain of office.

"I have raised money for the Hospice in the past by running. It's a great cause and I am delighted to help in this way.

"I don't expect to win the race or any prizes because I am not as fast as some of the other runners. 

“If I did win, it might present a problem because I would end up handing out the trophies to myself."

Proceeds from the race will go towards South Bucks Hospice – which supports patients with life limiting conditions - for the second year running.

Around 300 competitors are expected to descend on to Black Park for the event and this year the 5k course has been added in to support the 10k route.

Race secretary, Fred Ashford, said: “This year, we decided to add in the 5k course to support the 10k course. We wanted to encourage local runners who do the weekly 5k run in Black Park to join in the fun as well.

“We are supporting South Bucks Hospice again this year because we know that they are raising money for a new Community Hospice so we wanted to back them.” 

For information on how to enter visit http://www.southbucks10k.org.uk/.