First Shrewsbury Marathon raises £30,000 for charities

The money was raised during the sell-out event in June in which 2,750 athletes took part.

Market Drayton-based organisers, In the Running, are to introduce a new look course able to cope with 5,000 runners.

Local charities such as the Severn Hospice and the coronary care unit at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital were beneficiaries from the event as well as the Midlands Air Ambulance, Age UK, Hope House Children's Hospice and Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Dave Downes, one of the race organisers, said: "The whole event was brilliant last time and we had an abnormal number really in terms of how many people signed up for the race. There are established races that don't manage to raise £30,000 so we are really chuffed and some really great charities have benefited."

He added: "We are just waiting for one or two things to be finalised with the council and I hope we can make an announcement of 2014's event in the next couple of weeks."