Sean Baldock will be watching the AAA Indoor Championships in Sheffield this weekend with interest -from his sick bed.

The Hastings athlete (pictured) was scheduled to compete in the 400m at the event, which doubles as the World Indoor Championship trials, but has been struck down by food poisoning.

It is a major blow for the 27-year-old who now faces a nervous wait to see whether he will get a second chance to book his place in the British squad for the trip to Budapest in March.

He said: "I competed in Germany last week and did not feel right. I wasn't sure what was wrong to start with but a few hours after the race I was violently sick so it must have been something I ate.

"Now I will be keeping my fingers crossed that two people don't achieve the qualifying time in Sheffield so I get another shot to make the squad at the Birmingham International in a few weeks."

Darell Smith, of Crowborough Runners, will be among a group of top athletes attempting to break the 30-minute barrier at the 13th annual Chichester Priory 10km Road Race on Sunday (11am).