Great North Run scatter 5 free entry tickets across South Shields as ballot opens

As the Great North Run 2022 ballot opens, organisers are giving keen runners the chance to secure free entry in a South Shields treasure hunt.

Throughout Monday there will be large free entry tickets placed in some of the town's most iconic locations.

The 2021 edition of the event was of course forced to change route, starting and finishing in the Newcastle city centre.

However, this year it returns to its traditional route which finishes along the seafront in South Shields.

Great Run is celebrating the North-Eastern town today as hopeful participants scavenge for the free entries.

A social media post read: "To celebrate the launch of the GNR ballot today, we have hidden 5 Golden Tickets across South Shields with each one representing a free entry into the 2022 Great North Run!

"We will be revealing clues about where they are hidden across the day on our Instagram story.

"Keep an eye on our stories to see if you can be the first to crack the clue!

"Once that tickets are gone, they're gone."

The first clue was given as a location "full of stories, stacked upon shelves and shelves in all their glory".

It turned out to be The Word, National Centre for Written Word and was found by Nick Flanagan.

The next clue is set to be announced at 11 am with the rest following after that.