CITY centre businesses will be able to advertise their services to thousands of people in Newport next month – and it won’t cost them a penny.

The Newport Now Business Improvement District, which represents more than 400 city centre businesses, is sponsoring a big screen at the Admiral City of Newport Half Marathon on March 4.

The Newport Now BID, which represents around 450 city centre businesses, is to sponsor a large screen for the event.

As part of the sponsorship deal, BID levy payers will be able to advertise on the big screen for free.

St David’s Hospice Care fundraising director Kris Broome said: “The local businesses in the city centre have always been very supportive of the event, and this sponsorship is fantastic news.

“It has long been our wish to feature a large screen so that spectators on the riverfront may see the runners coming into the finish.

“We will also be able to use the screen to promote the facilities and businesses in the centre – and to offer other advertising opportunities which will be an extra source of income for the event. We are very grateful to Newport Now BID for this generous support.”

All BID levy payers need to do to advertise on the big screen, which will be seen by thousands of visitors to the half marathon, is to send a static advertisement to kris.broome@stdavidshospicecare.org.

Newport Now BID manager Kevin Ward said: “The BID’s board was unanimous in providing funding support for next year’s half marathon.

“BID members will be able to take advantage of free advertising on the big screen – and we think that will be a fantastic way of promoting what the city centre has to offer.

“We’re happy to support a fantastic charity like St David’s and to also back an event which starts and finishes in the BID area and brings significant footfall into the city centre.”

The event is a major fundraising event for St David’s Hospice Care – raising thousands of pounds over the last five years.