The Eden Project is organising its first marathon and half-marathon through the countryside of Cornwall.

The race, which is being staged in conjunction with the St Austell Running Club, starts and finishes at the Eden Project at Bodelva, near St Austell, Cornwall, on October 11.

There will also be a one-mile fun run, taking in the sights and smells of plants from around the world in the famous Biomes.

The centre is hoping hundreds of local children will be join in the fun run and raise funds for their favourite charity or local cause.

Tracey Smith, Eden's race project manager, said: "The three different race routes will attract different types of runners.

"It's a challenging route because you can't avoid hills in Cornwall but we've had a lot of interest simply because it is very different from city centre, road-based events. Get your running shoes on - places are limited and there's huge interest."

Paul Bullock, race director at St Austell Running Club said: "We're very pleased to be working with Eden on this unique event and we've organised a very interesting, multi-terrain route.

"The local china clay company Imerys, are kindly allowing us to run through areas normally inaccessible to the general public - which should be a spectacular opportunity.

"The combination of Eden and St Austell Running Club working together is very exciting, creating an event that promises to be very different and delivered in a way that will be challenging, fun, entertaining and in keeping with everything we expect of Eden."

There are prizes and category awards for the race winners and all race finishers will receive a themed memento and goodie bag.

Entry costs for the marathon start at £23, half-marathon at £15 and entry to the one mile fun run costs £2.

Bookings for all three races can me made now online at www.edenproject.com/marathon or for more information call the Eden Project box office on 01726 811972.

The Eden Project is owned by charity the Eden Trust, and is home to the two biggest greenhouses in the world - the Rainforest Biome and Mediterranean Biome.