Mo Farah will defend his title in the Morrisons Great North Run next month, organisers have announced.

The double Olympic champion will bid to become only the second Briton to win the prestigious half marathon race, which takes place on September 13, for a second time.

The 32-year-old is currently gearing up for the defence of his 5,000 and 10,000 metres titles at the World Championships, which get under way in Beijing on Saturday week.

He is looking to end a tumultuous season off the track - which has seen him caught up in doping allegations surrounding his coach Alberto Salazar, even though he has been accused of no wrongdoing - on a high on it.

Farah will try to follow in the footsteps of Mike McLeod, who won the first two editions of the Great North Run in 1981 and 1982.

Kenyan Benson Masya is the only other man to have successfully defended the title, with back-to-back victories in 1991 and 1992.

Farah will take on the likes of Stanley Biwott, the former London Marathon runner-up, on Tyneside.

The day before the race he plans to jog around the course in the Morrisons Great North 5k and then act as official starter for the Mini Great North Run.