This year’s Paisley 10K and Fun Run is officially under starter’s orders.

Entries for the popular event - widely regarded by runners as the “most fun” of its kind in Scotland - close on July 31.

And, with training now in sharp focus for those planning on taking part, a new sponsorship agreement has been struck.

Specsavers Paisley is supporting OneRen with this year’s event, which attracts strong crowds to the town centre as well as along the route, which takes in some of Paisley’s most famous sights.

They celebrated the collaboration as entries continue to roll in - and as billboards marking the partnership go up across the region.

This year’s events will have a cap on 2,500 runners for the 10K and 1,500 for the Fun Run.

The day of sport, also supported by Renfrewshire Council and Kilbarchan Amateur Athletics Club, has grown into one of the biggest dates in Paisley’s calendar - with many of the fun runners raising money for charitable causes.

Former Glasgow Rocks basketball star Kieron Achara, a OneRen board director, will be starting one of the races on the day and joined the Specsavers team to thank them for their support.

He said: “With less than two months now to go until the Paisley 10K and Fun Run, excitement really is building. Many of our 10K runners have already been sharing some of their training stories with us.

“This is an event which really brings people together and benefits the whole town, so we are really looking forward to it.

“We are delighted to have Specsavers on-board as a key sponsor this year as we celebrate the health and wellbeing benefits that the events bring.”

Gail Thompson, store director at Specsavers Paisley, said: “The annual Paisley 10k event is always a fantastic annual event for the town so we were thrilled to get involved this year as the main community sponsor.

“The health and wellbeing of the Paisley community has always been at the heart of our business at Specsavers, so we’re excited to be able to provide support to the 10k event and hope everyone has a fantastic time taking part.”  

The flat, fast route of the road race - a Scottish Athletics-verified 10k - is one of the major draws for competitors, including elite runners.

It takes entrants out to the west of the town following a loop of Paisley’s historic town centre. More than 3k is along the Paisley Canal to Kilmacolm cycle track, with the start and finish line in County Square, outside Paisley Gilmour Street train station.

The fun run - along a different route, which takes in many Paisley landmarks - is open to anyone who wants to walk, jog, run or push a buggy. It’s great for families, friends and youngsters to take part together.

Entrants are being urged to join in the countdown by sharing their training photographs on social media using the hashtag #yourraceyourreason #paisley10K

Click here to find out more and enter the Paisley 10K and Fun Run.