[Ivor Backache]

 Not disagreeing with anything that has been said, but a comment on the 'wigwam' system. In recent years my beans have produced the best crop in the top half of the cane. The bottom half flowers have dropped off due to weather conditions chiefly rain. Consequently the plants all grow towards each other and become a tangled mass.
 Last year I grow my early beans in 1' square pots and put a cane in each corner following the line of the pot, i.e pointing outwards, and the situation was improved.

[JayG]

You are absolutely right Ivor B - a wigwam is probably the least runner bean friendly arrangement there is, for the reasons you suggest.

It's probably the most stable for growing in a container though, and if you don't have any worries about people poking their eyes out an "X" arrangement (the canes crossing over near the middle) gives them more room.

I'm sure having them sloping outwards individually works very well too, although I'm surprised they don't wave around and come loose when it's windy unless tied together with shorter canes at the top? 

[samnorfolk]

So all points taken on board but what would the best solution for my runners?

[Plottered]

when I took over my plot there was a 2 foot square raised bed. In the middle of the bed was a piece of 2" x 2" timber about 7' long knocked into the ground. Fixed onto the top of that was an old bicycle wheel. The guy before me used to grow his beans up strings buried into the ground and tied to the wheel. I'm about to reassemble it in the next few days and do the same

[mumofstig]

So all points taken on board but what would the best solution for my runners?

Plenty of relevant advice given look at replies# 3,4,5,6 and 7, for starters, the choice of container is up to you and your pocket