One of the biggest events to be held in Brighton and Hove will give the city a multi-million pound boost.

Up to 12,000 runners and 30,000 spectators are due to hit the city for tomorrow's first ever Brighton Marathon.

Hotels, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, cafés, shops and businesses across the city are already doing a roaring trade, with many places already fully booked.

The Met Office is also predicting good weather which is expected to boost numbers even further.

Race director Tim Hutchings believes the event could generate £3 million for the city with another £3 million raised for both local and national charities.

He said: “This marathon is going to be great news for the city and will really give it a huge boost - not just for its profile but for its economy as well.

“The fact it is also going to raise so much for good causes is another reason to celebrate.”

Daniel Reed, revenue manager of the New Steine Hotel and Gulliver's Hotel, Brighton, said: "I think it's fantastic. You wouldn't believe the amount of phone calls we have been getting today from people trying to book rooms at the last minute.

"I think it's a really good event and if I had been in training early enough I would have done it myself. I am planning on taking part next year."

Nick Simkin, a bar worker at the Park Inn Hotel and Spa, in Lansdowne Place, Hove, said: "We are fully booked on Saturday night and have been for a while.

"Any event which brings so many people into the city is great. I have friends coming from Norwich and Southampton to run it. They all went to uni here and have come back for it so I will be cheering them on."

Edda Halldorsdoppir, a receptionist at the Royal Albion Hotel, in Old Steine, Brighton, said: "We are fully booked on Saturday.

"It's good to have this in the city."

Tom Doffman, manager at Food for Friends, Prince Albert Street, Brighton, said: "We do not take bookings for Sunday lunchtime but we are expecting to be very busy.

"We have more bookings than usual on Sunday evening. I think it's a good thing and everyone in the city knows what is going on."

Roberto Sabbides, owner and manager of the Regency restaurant, King's Road, said: "It's a wonderful event.

"I will be working and watching the runners at the same time."

DJ Fatboy Slim, also known as Norman Cook said the marathon was another example of the city's attraction to others.

It his weekly blog for The Argus, he wrote: “It is another testament to this city's pride in welcoming visitors and events to our streets, from political conferences to motorbike and car rallies, from Pride to Fatboy Slim beach parties, from the Burning of the Clocks to our glorious international arts festival.

“Brighton thrives on occasionally closing its streets to allow locals and visitors alike to celebrate our unique beachfront culture. “It puts us on the map and defines our city. “We are now up there with New York, Paris, Berlin and that big place up the A23 in having our own marathon.”