Elliott secures top talent

Kenya's Chepkemei won the Great North Run in September

Peter Elliott has gone on a Christmas spending spree after British Gas announced their sponsorship of the Great North Cross Country Race.

The deal comes as a boost to north-east athletics following UK Athletics decision not to stage a major international meeting at the Gateshead Stadium next year.

Elliott, the former Commonwealth 1500m champion, is responsible for putting together the elite field for Britain's most prestigious international cross country event.

The races are being held in Newcastle after a 12-year stint in County Durham, and will take place on 29 December.

Elliot has already signed up reigning world champions Mohammed Mourhit and Paula Radcliffe, plus Sergey Lebed who won the European title.

Ethiopia's Ayelech Worku will be in the line-up

He has recruited Susan Chepkemei, who will return to the region after winning the BUPA Great North Run in September.

The Kenyan will tackle defending champion Radcliffe, who beat her for the World Half Marathon title in Bristol.

Joining the pair in the 6km race will be Ethiopia's Ayelech Worku and several members of Britain's European Championship silver medal winning side.

Britain's top distance runner Jon Brown, who showed a return to his best form when finishing sixth in this year's New York Marathon, is in the men's 9km field.

Brown is joined by Paulo Guerra, Portugal's four-times champion, and Britain's Sam Haughian.