THIS year’s Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon is set to grow – following the huge success of last year’s inaugural event.

An extra 1,000 places have been created for the 2014 race, to be held in York on October 12.

At the official launch, held at Clifford’s Tower in the city, organisers revealed that 7,000 runners will be able to take part this year – after places in last year’s event sold out in just three days.

Event lead Lisa Ashcroft said: “The reaction to last year’s Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon was phenomenal and we now want to build on that success for future years.

"We're so grateful to everyone in York and along the route who really embraced the first ever marathon and helped make it such a fantastic experience for all of our runners. We're looking forward to another brilliant year."

Last year’s event proved a huge moneyspinner, bringing in some £2m for various good causes and providing a £1m boost for the local economy.

It is organised by the team behind the Jane Tomlinson's Run For All 10K series and is part of the lasting legacy of the late Jane Tomlinson, who raised almost £2m by completing a series of sporting challenges, despite being diagnosed with incurable cancer.

Runners taking part are encouraged to raise funds for a cause close to their heart and especially the event's official partner charities - Martin House Children's Hospice, Macmillan Cancer Support, Yorkshire Cancer Research, Parkinson's UK, the Haven, CLIC Sargent, Candlelighters, St Leonard's Hospice, Sue Ryder Care and the Jane Tomlinson Appeal.

General entries open at 9am on Monday. Go to theyorkshiremarathon.com to sign up.