A running club has stepped in to help secure the future of a popular road race that looked set to be axed this year.

The Felixstowe Road Runners (FRR) group has volunteered to take over the organisation of the Martlesham 10k and Fun Run after the Lions Club of Woodbridge said it could no longer co-ordinate the event.

Although the staging of the race has yet to be confirmed with the relevant authorities, the date for the race has been provisionally set for Ocotber 13.

The Woodbridge Lions will still continue to help out and they will receive most of the money raised during the event to give out to good causes.

Richard Smith, the FRR race director for the Martlesham 10k, said people should pencil the date into their diaries and keep an eye on the group’s www.frr.org.uk website for forthcoming details.

He said: “FRR are delighted to announce that after agreement with Lions Club of Woodbridge and District it has been agreed that we will hereafter stage the Martlesham 10k and Fun Run.

“Woodbridge Lions have staged and run this event for many years and built it into a well-known and loved event in the racing calendar. They have, however, recently decided that they are unable to continue to do so.

“FRR would like to both thank and pay tribute to Woodbridge Lions’ enduring commitment to it. Their involvement on the day will, however, continue and be relied upon and they will be the major beneficiary of the event in 2013.

“We release this information to ensure you pencil in October 13, 2013 as the date of the race but also take the opportunity to stress that at the moment this is purely an intention on our part – the process of applying for the necessary authorisation has only just begun. We hope to confirm the above as soon as possible.

“We will update our website shortly to include a race page through which more information will be available.”