Bannister tribute planned

Bannister had a distinguished career in medicine alongside his athletics

The 50th anniversary of Sir Roger Bannister's famous four-minute mile will be marked by a series of celebrations at Oxford University.

On 6 May, athletes from the university will run in a restaging of the historic race in 1954.

The meeting will end with an Elite Mile, set by the British Milers' Club.

"I hope this acts as an inspiration to sportsmen and women everywhere to keep striving to achieve their best through personal effort alone," said Bannister.

"It may seem incredible today that the world record at this classic distance could be set by an amateur athlete, in bad weather, on a university running track.

"The many great milers whom I hope will be able to join me on 6 May demonstrate the lifelong satisfaction that such achievements bring."

Bannister will be joined by many of the people who played crucial roles in the original run and many of the great mile runners of the last 50 years.

The Royal Mint will issue a commemorative 50p coin to mark the occasion.