Ludlow is hosting a 12k race on Sunday 23 September – with a difference. The race is part of the FitFest event, to help raise funds for Severn Hospice, while simultaneously getting people fitter, and helping local businesses.

Runners who complete the 12k course, which starts and finishes inside Ludlow Castle, will be rewarded with a memento produced by a local blacksmith – and which gets them a 12 per cent discount in participating Ludlow cafes, restaurants, pubs and shops.

Co-organiser Abi Dakin, of Dakin Events, said: “Most of the businesses open in Ludlow on a Sunday have signed up to the initiative now; the idea is to keep runners in the town so they spend the day with us if they’re visiting, and if the runners are local, to remind them of what great shops, pubs, restaurants and cafes we have in the town!”

That’s not all – runners can also enter their profession when they sign up at www.ludlow12k.co.uk so bragging rights for the fastest teacher, fire crew, hairdresser and so on are up for grabs.

The race starts at 10am on Sunday September 23 with a £12 entry fee and a Zumba-led warm-up prior to the run.

The FitFest event, which is in the castle’s outer bailey, includes mass open-air Zumba, yoga, free gait analysis if you’re interested in running and much more for the whole family to enjoy. Speakers include author and ultramarathoner Robin Harvie, James Adams, who completed last year’s TransAmerica race, and Rosie Swale Pope, the extraordinary woman that ran around the world, solo and unassisted.

FitFest is on from 10am to 4pm and eveyone is welcome for free.

Then once everyone has recovered after the day’s fitness, the castle re-opens its doors for the evening event, Comedy in the Castle.

A superb line-up of comics will be attending, including Shropshire’s own Toby Hadoke, who will be the MC for the evening, plus Dan Nightingale, former CBBC presenter-turned-comic Holly Walsh, multiple award winner Paul Tonkinson, and the sublime Greg Davies, perhaps best known as Mr Gilbert in TV’s The Inbetweeners.

The evening then comes to an end with music from George Barnett and the 9th Wave, a local band with a very bright future!

Tickets for Comedy in the Castle are just £20 plus booking fee, and are available from www.comedyinthecastle.co.uk