Sarah Wilkes came up with the idea for a fun run to help boost the 137th annual event at Warkworth Castle in August.

The talented youngster's idea is for participants to run a 2.5 kilometre route starting and finishing at the castle and taking in the riverside path.

Sarah, who lives in Warkworth and attends The Duke's Middle School in Alnwick, said: "I took part in the Felton fair run and thought that a similar event at Warkworth would be a fun thing to do as well as raising money for the show."

Sarah has already notched an impressive list of victories in her burgeoning career, including the Tesco Junior Great Winter Run in Edinburgh, the Tesco Great Junior Coastal Run at Sunderland in 2006 and 2007, and the Scottish Borders winter cross-country event. She also competed in the National Cross Country championships at Alton Towers, rubbed shoulders with such athletics greats as Paula Radcliffe, Steve Cram and Jonathan Edwards, and had breakfast with Dame Tanni Grey Thompson.

Sarah shines at both short and long distance events. "I'd love to compete in the Olympics, possibly at five or 10 kilometres," she said.

It was Sarah who inspired her GP dad Scott, mum Jane and nine-year-old brother James to get interested in running.

Scott, who practises at Amble Health Centre, said: "I had never done much running; my wife and I were pretty much couch potatoes. It was Sarah showing how talented a runner she was at school that got us hooked.

"She and I have joined Morpeth Harriers and the family are now regular runners except for our five year-old, George, who's a bit too young to be pounding the streets."

Scott and Jane are organising the DP Builders and Forsyths of Wooler-sponsored run, which begins at 1pm, an hour after the show opens on August 16. The official starter will be marathon legend Jim Alder, who won Commonwealth Games gold in 1966 in Kingston, Jamaica.

There will be a limit of 80 entrants. All participants will receive free T-shirts and entry to the show. Trophies will be awarded to winners in the male and female senior (16 and over on the day of the race) and junior (under 16) sections.

The entry fee is £6 for adults and £4.50 for under-16s.

Contact Scott Wilkes on 01665 713427 or email jane.wilkes@virgin.net for more information.

As usual, the show will have a wide range of entertainment as well as the displays of flowers, fruits, vegetables, preserves, baking, art and crafts. There will be a brass band, dancing, a children's fancy-dress parade, face painting and a magician.

Refreshments, prepared and served by Ulgham Women's Institute, will be available throughout the afternoon in the main marquee.

Parking this year will be available in the field next to the Warkworth cricket ground with access from Morwick Road. This parking facility removes the need for a bus service from the cemetery car park.