A RETURNING race event has taken action against the use of plastic bottles in a unique way.

The Village Bakery Wrexham Half Marathon is set to return in February 2020 and organisers have pledged to do something to prevent hundreds of plastic bottles being used as part of their event.

Water will be provided in bio-degradable seaweed membrane capsules at drink stations as opposed to single-use plastic bottles.

Runners can bite the corner off and drink the water out of the pod or burst the whole sachet in their mouth.

Mike Harrington, race director for the Village Bakery Wrexham Half Marathon, said: “We have three on course drink stations which could have meant providing 9000 single use plastic bottles so we are using the seaweed membrane pouches that were trialled at the Virgin Money London Marathon this year. They are an expensive alternative as the technology to produce them is brand new but we made the decision and hope the running community will back us and continue to support the race in the huge numbers that they always have. As far as we know, we are the first race in Wales to use these pouches and are not aware of any other races across the border in North West England to use them."

The pouches will be handed to the runners at the designated drink stations. Mike added that volunteers will collect and compost discarded pouches but any that we miss will just bio-degrade naturally within a few weeks with no harm to the local environment.

Races across the region are also taking a stance against plastic waste as organisers of the eleventh Conwy Half Marathon, taking place next November, have said runners found dropping used bottles on the track or throwing them into gardens will be disqualified and taken off the final results.

The Run Wales website says that, where possible, runners should leave litter at the nearest water station or with the nearest marshal where possible when a bin is not available.

Hundreds of people have already expressed interest in taking on the marathon, known as ‘one of the friendliest, flattest and fastest half marathons in the region’ according to event organisers.

The half marathon will take place on Sunday, February 16 2020.