The four men died during the race in September 2005

The news follows the deaths of four runners in the 2005 race and an inquest which urged improved facilities to deal with medical emergencies.

For the 2006 event in October medics will use mountain bikes and extra medical facilities will be placed near the end of the 13.1 mile course.

An inquest found the four men died from inadvertent over-exertion.

In delivering his verdict, the coroner said he hoped organisers would look at ways of improving emergency access to the final stage of the half-marathon.

Further improvements

The inquest had heard that in one case an emergency vehicle had taken 45 minutes to reach a casualty.

The four who died were deputy head teacher Phil Lewis, 52, from Chester-le-Street, County Durham; 43-year-old civil engineer David Mahaffey, from York; company director Reuben Wilson, 28, from Leeds; and businessman Kieran Patching, 34, from Walderslade, near Chatham in Kent.

Mr Foster said organisers, Nova International, were also looking at further improvements for the 2007 event.

He said the event was recognised as having the best medical facilities anywhere in the world.

But he said it was acknowledged that "lessons had been learned".