City's roads close as thousands run half marathon

The annual event is expected to raise more than £2m for about 100 charities

About 24,000 runners have taken part in the Manchester Half Marathon to raise funds for charities and local causes.

A team of nine surgeons from The Christie cancer hospital were among participants raising funds for the centre.

Consultant urologist Aziz Gulamhusein, who was leading the team, said: "We wanted to do more than just talk about the difference the charity makes - we wanted to take action, to give something back.

"Manchester's home and the people I support and people I look after, so I'm excited."

Aziz Gulamhusein was among nine Christie surgeons raising funds for the cancer hospital

Frankie Joyce, son of The Smiths drummer Mike Joyce, was also running with his sister Livvy to raise funds for both pancreatic cancer research and a local mural in tribute to his father's late bandmate Andy Rourke, who died from the illness at the age of 59 in 2023.

"He was one of my dad's best mate - he wasn't just his bandmate - he roomed with him when he was on tour.

"So when you lose him quite early, that was obviously a big shock for him and the family. He'd always been around the family - even when he moved to New York, we'd see him quite a lot."

The annual race, which started in 2016, was expected to raise more than £2m for about 100 charities.

The winners included Jack Rowe in the men's category, while Lucy Reid won the women's race and Sean Frame in the wheelchair event.

Travel disruption is expected until the evening with roads shut between Sale and Castlefield - click here for a full list.