This year’s Moor Park 10k is set to be one of the most hotly contested events in its 14 year history as the number of entrants are flooding in.

More than 450 children have signed up for the junior events at the annual fundraiser which will be held at Merchant Taylors’ School on Sunday, September 29.

The popular fundraising event is held every year at the Sandy Lodge Road school to raise money for the Lynda Jackson Macmillan Centre.

Last year, 671 children took part in the junior fun-runs as the event raised more than £35,000 for charity.

This year, the number of entrants in all categories are said to be at an all-time high for this stage of the race preperations, with more than three weeks to go until the races.

Lynda Jackson Macmillan Centre Marketing Manager, Buzz Coster “It’s not unusual to see whole families enter the different events with the children in the Fun Runs and their parents, and even grandparents, in the 10k.”

“It’s also been great to see familiar faces coming back each year with the children progressing through the different age groups.”

Organisers believe numbers have increased because of the competitive nature of schools in the area.

The school that enters the most pupils will be awarded the 2012 Shield. This is already being hotly contested between St Helen’s School in Northwood and Charlotte House Preparatory School in Rickmansworth.

“There’s still time for another school to challenge for the trophy but they’d better be quick because, at this rate, the junior events will be full long before race day,” Ms Coster added.