A team of novice runners from PR and marketing agency Core have challenged themselves to complete the Morrisons Great Birmingham 10k race in under an hour.

The quartet, made up of Warren Clarke, Charlie Collings, Catherine Ryan and Nikita Patel, say they have been struggling to break the 60-minute barrier since starting training just four weeks ago.

But the Birmingham-based team is determined to meet the target on Sunday as part of their efforts to raise £1,000 for Cancer Research UK.

Core's finance director Mr Collings said: "None of us have ever run a 10k race before so we are both excited and nervous.

"As an extra challenge, we are hoping to finish the race in under an hour but since the course includes a mix of fast, flat sections and the long uphill section in Edgbaston's Ryland Road and St James Road, known as the 'dreaded hill', this could be a tall order."

Core will continue its month-long fundraising campaign for Cancer Research UK on May 8 with the return of its bake sale for staff, clients and friends, called Big Purple Picnic.