THOUSANDS of runners thronged to Blackpool on Sunday for the Beaverbrooks 10K fun run.

Just under 4000 amateur athletes, including wheelchair competitors, entered the 21st annual event. Organisers hope it will raise £100,000 towards the Macmillan Windmill Appeal fund for the new £2.9m cancer care unit at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

The race was started by Jimmy Armfield alongside Mike Flynn and Scott Taylor of Blackpool FC. First across the line was Steve Littler of Wesham Road Runners, at a time of 31mins 21secs.

Winner of the women's race was Manchester's Catherine Robinson in 37mins 45 secs. The wheelchair race was won by Chris Stevens in 28mins 14secs.