1,000 runners take part in Oswestry Half Marathon - with pictures

A total of 1,000 runners set off from the British Ironworks, guided around the town by giant gorillas as the mile-markers.

It was the first event of its kind staged in Oswestry with the organisers hoping to make it a fixture in the county's calendar.

The town's deputy mayor, Vince Hunt, fired a cannon to start race, with runners heading off from spectacular countryside setting off from the ironwork centre.

Councillor Hunt said he was delighted to have been asked to start proceedings, and to see the amount of families who had turned out to support runners.

He said: "I am really, really proud to have been asked to fire the cannon to start it and to have been able to hand out the medals at the end.

"Look at how many people we have had here it is great, how many people have come from other places to take part. They have been staying in the town, I bet all the hotels were booked up and it is brilliant for Oswestry.

"Hopefully this will become an on-going thing. We are never going to compete with the London Marathon but there are 1,000 runners here and it is only the first year."

The runners were put through their paces prior to the start of the race by Oswestry's own marathon-marvel, Amy Hughes.

Amy, who shot to fame after running 53 marathons in 53 days, ran a lively warm-up for the crowd ahead of the start.

The Oswestry runner said it was great to see the town embracing the new event.

She said: "Honestly it is so exciting. It is so great to see people doing this for the community and hopefully it is a massive success and it comes back next year."

All the runners competing will receive special 'gorilla medals', and Clive Knowles of the British Ironworks which has made the medals, said: "We wanted them to be like 'runners bling'.

"They are gold plated and the winners have received ones with a gold rappers chain, and everyone who took part got one of the gorilla medals with a Union Jack ribbon."

Mr Knowles said they had been delighted to host the event and would be looking forward to it returning next year.

He said: "The medals and the venue have really helped to make it stand out for runners. It is a special venue and the medals have easily eclipsed what they had for London.

"It is incredible for us, it is an amazing privilege and an honour to host it. Oswestry definitely needs this. It is a positive spotlight on the town and it is something where everyone has had a good time."