AS THE full route, including the location of live music and DJ stages, are unveiled for next month’s Oxford Half Marathon, organisers have defended a price increase for runners.

Freddie Andrewes, son-in-law of Virgin owner Sir Richard Branson, gave a preview of the race - now rebranded as a ‘sports festival’ - at the family’s 200-acre Oxfordshire estate, near Kidlington.

In 2016 more than 7,500 runners took part and this year marks the first time the race will be organised by Virgin Sport, which is headed by Mr Andrewes.

In a change from the usual race day set up, spectators will be able to enjoy local bands, yoga, fitness classes and food on October 8 but runners will foot the bill with the entry fee going up from £40 in 2016 to £45.

Defending the higher cost Mr Andrewes said: “The price reflects the level of experience and service runners get. These are premium events but for that you get a premium experience and are looked after exceptionally well.

“We absolutely want to make these events more accessible to everyone and what we will do across all of our events is ring fence a pre-agreed number of places for local entrants at a significant discount from next year.”

He added the company was committed to giving back to the Oxford community and would distribute donations from runners to Youth Sport Trust to fund local fitness initiatives for young people.

Mr Andrewes, married to Mr Branson's daughter Holly, said: “We fund the overheads of Youth Sport Trust to ensure that 100 per cent of donations go to frontline projects.”

Sobell House, Helen & Douglas House, Cancer Research UK and premature babies charity SSNAP are the event’s partners but people can run for a charity of their choice.

The 13.1 mile race starts at Broad Street, goes up almost the full length of Banbury Road, before coming back down to the Marston Ferry Road, through Marston and back to the city centre.

The event began in 2011 but avoided the city centre - starting and finishing at the Kassam Stadium - until 2015 when a new course that included some of the city’s most historic landmarks proved a hit with runners.

Mr Andrewes, who grew up in Oxford, said: “We want to be operating in the cities where they have a deep sense of history or have fun, iconic locations, just to create a big more of an experience and atmosphere.

“To start in the city centre and to pass the architecture and buildings we are fortunate enough to pass is a huge privilege and we really want to amplify that.”

Registration is open until September 25, but is limited to 10,000 runners. Visit uk.virginsport.com/event/oxford-2017, price includes free race photos and T-shirt.