More than 1,000 runners have completed the county's biggest half marathon.

Today's Great Cumbrian Run in Carlisle was declared a huge success as athletes of all abilities took on the course.

They were cheered along the route by supporters with many of them raising impressive amounts of money for charities along the way.

Race day included a fun run, as well as the main event, which started from Carlisle Castle.

The day has also marked an important milestone in the city's fightback from the floods, as the first major event to be held at the flood-ravaged Sheepmount sports stadium.

The main race was won by Keswick Athletics Club runner Marc Brown.

He was clearly in good form as he won by a comfortable margin and finished in a time of 69 minutes and 32 seconds to win the 34th version of the event.

"I wanted to win it and that's what I've done, so I'm happy," Brown said.

"The conditions were pretty nice.

"And the support from the crowd was great, too."

Lydia Chapman, of Dalston, was the first lady to cross the finishing line.

Chapman said: "I ran the Great North Run a couple of weeks ago and I actually entered it last year.

"But I fell off my bike three days before the race and I managed to take a chunk out of my arm.

"This year, I wanted to do the Great North Run and the Great Cumbrian Run.

"And I wanted to run in my home city, so it's wonderful."

She added: "I'm a little bit tired right now.

"I had a cold last week, so I was thinking I wouldn't really do very well.

"But to do so well has been great."

Brown finished, ahead of Paul Graves, of DH runners in Carlisle, who finished in second and third-placed Paul Coon, of Ellenborough Athletics Club, near Maryport.

See tomorrow's News & Star for a four-page special on the run.

In Tuesday's News & Star . . . the names and times of every finisher.