A record-breaking number of finishers helped provide a surge in quality on the 28th annual Telford 10km Road Race.

No less than 554 runners crossed the finish line in the mass and elite races at Sunday’s festive showpiece around the outskirts of Town Park.

That was 38 more than than last year’s best ever number of finishers, and the race proved to be one of the best ever seen on Shropshire soil.

Stockport’s Jessica Coulson, the current UK No 1 for 10 miles, produced an eye-catching display to claim the ladies race in 33mins 18secs, the 13th fastest time run by any British runner in 2011.

That was 26 seconds outside the record for the two-lap course up and down Silkin Way – held by 2009 winner Gemma Turtle – but was the second fastest ever on the course.

A high class women’s race saw the first six athletes home in a little over 35 minutes, with Tipton’s Sarah Hood and Stacey Johnson of Cannock finishing second and third respectively.

Telford AC’s three-time race winner Claire Martin was fourth in 35.07 and first over 35.

The men’s race went to Ben Tickner, from Wells in Somerset, in a time from 29:58.

The top three was completed by Luton’s John McDonnell and Tom Doe of Lincoln, while all the top six were home inside 31 minutes.

The quality ran through the field with Telford AC’s Paul Ward the first Shropshire finisher home, earning 13th place in a time of 31.45.

Chris Carter from Telford AC returned from university in London to finish 26th in 32.57, just ahead of his team mate Dan Young who was 29th in 33.30.

Ian Lowe from Oswestry Olympians was the next Shropshire finisher in 69th, 36.40, whilst the first Shropshire Shuffler was Richard Hunter 71st in 37.09. Paul Williams, from Wrekin Road Runners was the first over 60-year-old to finish in 39.31.

Other leading Shropshire finishers were;

74th Allan Henderson (Telford Harriers) 37.16

77th Simon Hardiman (Wrekin Road Runners) 37.30

83rd Dave Tatton (Telford AC) 37.38

85th Keith Sylvester (Shropshire Shufflers) 2nd Vet 50 37.40

89th Dean Blythe (Telford Harriers) 37.56

93rd Ben Calder (Shrewsbury AC) 38.24