It’s time to start training as a popular school running challenge is returning.

The Charmouth Challenge will take place on Saturday, July 7 to raise money for Charmouth Primary School.

Last year’s competition saw a winning time of 52 minutes and 10 seconds set, with organisers expecting more tough competition this year.

Alongside the usual eight mile fell run will be an eight mile walk and a shorter two mile run for novices and children.

For the first time, runners on both the fun run and fell run will be chipped timed, and all fell runners and walkers will receive a goody bag.

Event organiser, Lucy Watkinson, said: “It is lovely to see the whole community of Charmouth coming together and so many people giving up their time to marshal the event and help in many ways.

“We are also very grateful for all the companies who are supporting the event, including Clipper Tea, Palmers Brewery, Dorset Cereals, Newlands Holidays, Lyme Bay Holidays, Lyme Bay Ribs and many other companies.”

The course will start from the primary school, and will take runners or walkers through the coastal scenery in the south west on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast, overlooking Charmouth’s fossil hunting beaches.

The route includes an ascent of Golden Cap, which at 191 metres, is the highest point on the south coast of England.

School headteacher, Laura Cornish, said: “The school appreciates the enormous effort that goes into organising the Charmouth Challenge and are very grateful to all involved.

“This is a huge fundraiser for the school PTFA and with the current financial constraints being faced by all schools, we are grateful to have such a well organised and run event to support our fundraising efforts.

“I am particularly excited as it is my first Charmouth Challenge as headteacher so I am really looking forward to seeing the whole community together.”

The annual Charmouth School summer fete will be held on the same day, providing participants the opportunity to enjoy themselves with some homemade cake, as well as some fun games.

Entries are still open should you wish to participate in this year's challenge, with organiser Lucy hoping tmore people sign up for the fun run.

To find out more about the event or to register, visit charmouthchallenge.co.uk