Thousands take to city streets for 10k run and victory parade

City became the first men's team in the history of English football to win the top flight title four years in a row

Manchester has seen thousands of participants take part in the Great Manchester Run as the city hosts a sporting double bill.

The run, which includes a 10k run and a half marathon, began at 11:25 BST and saw more than 25,000 runners take part.

The event took place ahead of a victory parade for Premier League champions Manchester City, who will celebrate their fourth title in a row along the same streets from 19:30.

Manchester City Council said the two events meant the city centre would be very busy throughout the day and several roads, including Deansgate, Market Street, Princess Street, Oxford Street and Oxford Road, would be closed.

The victory tour follows City becoming the first men's team in the history of English football to win the league four years in a row, but comes a day after they lost the FA Cup final to fierce rivals Manchester United.

It will see buses carrying the team and club staff leave the National Football Museum at 19:30, travel through Cathedral Gardens and along Deansgate and arrive at the Hilton Manchester hotel at about 21:00.

The Great Manchester Run sees more than 25,000 participants take to the city's streets

Speaking after the league win, City's star midfielder Phil Foden said his teammates had put themselves "in the history books".

"It's so hard to put into words what we’ve done," he said.

"No team has ever done it.

"Working all year for this moment, it’s such a special feeling to share it with the fans."

The council said the Great Manchester Run featured some of the world’s best athletes heading a field of more than 25,000 competitors.

The event, which was broadcast live on BBC One, started with the Elite Women’s race at 11:25, followed by Elite Men and masses from 11:40.

Gotytom Gebreslase won the Women's 10k and Eleanor Baker took the top spot in the Women's Half Marathon, while Vincent Ngetich and James Westlake won the Men's 10k and Men's Half Marathon races.

Council leader Bev Craig said both events were something to look forward to, but the City parade would be an "unmissable night to remember".

"Being crowned Premier League champions once again, and for an astonishing fourth year in a row, is an incredible achievement by the club and its players, showing once again that Manchester's world class sporting credentials really are second to none," she added.