In-form Blackburn Harriers and Darwen Dashers were the team winners at the Through the Villages Road Race - just has they had been at the Accrington 10K a week earlier.

For the Harriers, Paul Guinan was the first local home with fourth in 46:46 for the hilly eight miles and 781 yards through Wheelton, Brinscall, Abbey Village and Withnell.

Mark Almond and Evan Cook, in 25th and 28th, backed Guinan with respective times of 52:29 and 52:45.

Belgrave Harrier Paul Freary was first back to the Dressers Arms in 44:13 as Philippa Walsh from Preston Harriers took the women's crown in 56:51.

Linda Clarkson, Zoe Haslam and Sue Corsini were fourth fifth and sixth for the Dashers' women in 58:39, 1:00:02 and 1:00:06 with Sue first in the over 40s.

Chorley Harriers made a favourable impression with Alan Alty 11th and John Sutton 15th for the men and Nicola Raby ninth woman, while Clayton's Ted Orrell was a class winner in the over 65s with 1:02:45.