LANCASHIRE'S greatest athlete celebrated his 65th birthday on Thursday and over 300 of Ron Hill's friends and fans flocked to his party to race five kilometres through the streets of Littleborough with their hero. "I am overwhelmed that so many people managed to get there at 6.45pm at night" said Hill, after the village had been swamped by its biggest influx of runners for over two decades.

Earlier this year Clayton-le-Moors Harriers formally recognised his status by granting him honorary membership and many of his team-mates paid their own tributes by running.

Hill returned to the Harriers in 1975 after a spell at Bolton and he says that it's still a source of regret that none of his three Olympic appearances were as a member of Clayton who have never been represented at the Games.

"I was fourth in the Marathon Trial in 1976" he recalls.

"The third placed runner subsequently got injured but they still took him."

As ever though, Hill is keen to look forward.

His book on the 'History of Manchester Marathons' culminating with the Commonwealth Games has been delayed because the original publisher went bankrupt, but he was flying to Ireland this week to meet new publishers, and the book should be in the shops soon.

He is also planning the third volume of his autobiography and to organise a reprint of the second.

On the athletics front he is still maintaining his remarkable record of having run every day since 1964 and he is well on the way to completing the task of racing in 100 countries by his 70th Birthday.

This weekend he will be competing in the Bucharest Half Marathon as Rumania becomes number 83rd.

Hill was born in Accrington, and some of the area's foremost talents were at Littleborough.

Commonweath Games 1500m finalist Kerry Gillibrand from Baxenden took time out from a hectic schedule to be a handsome winner in the ladies race, finishing 12th outright in 17:05.

If there was a suspicion that she wasn't right on the limit, it was because the race was sandwiched between the Great North Road Mile and the Northern Four Stage Relays.

Former Accrington Road Runner Evan Cook won the over 50 title with seventh overall in 16:52, while the highest placed locals were Lee Passco from Hyndburn and Aaron Hargreaves from Pendle, fifth and sixth in 16:35 and 16:41 respectively.

Ron's wife May was on hand to encourage and applaud all the athletes as they neared the finish.

Like all the races promoted by Andy O'Sullivan, charities will be the big beneficiaries with seven set to receive donations.

In recognition of the East Lancashire contingent there will be cheques for Pendleside Hospice and Derian House Children's Hospice.

Meanwhile, Ron is already planning the next.

"I've been trying to work out what day my 70th birthday will be, it would be nice if it is a Sunday so people can get there more easily," he said.