Thousands take part in Great North Run

Thousands of people raced across the Tyne Bridge

Thousands of people have taken part in the Great North Run - one of the biggest half marathons in the world.

Runners began in Newcastle, racing through Gateshead and South Tyneside before finishing in South Shields.

About 60,00 runners were cheered on by more than 200,000 supporters lining the 13.1-mile (21km) route.

Sheila Chepkirui, 2024 New York Marathon champion, won the women's elite race and Alex Mutiso won the men's competition.

As is traditional, there were famous faces at the start line to see off the runners - this year it was Newcastle United's Jacob Murphy and Nick Pope.

Pope said: "Slow and steady wins the race would be a goalkeeper's stance on it."

Murphy said on social media: "Super day to be involved in, I hope everyone ran a great race, loved cheering you all on at the start."

He added that having given high fives to so many passing runners, he was "icing my hand for the foreseeable".

Newcastle United's Jacob Murphy and Nick Pope started the races

Chepkirui crossed the line first in the women's elite race with a time of 1:09:32.

She said the last mile was "really amazing", adding: "The crowd was cheering us all the way."

Eilish McColgan, who was hoping to follow in her mum's footsteps with a win, came third 10 seconds later.

The men's elite race was won by Mutiso at 1:00:52.

Sean Frame, last year's runner-up, won the men's wheelchair race in 49:24 and Mel Nicholls won the women's contest in 1:05:24.

Sheila Chepkirui won the women's race

The Great North Run's founder, Sir Brendan Foster, said the event was "more popular, more famous, more in demand...the whole dimension of the thing is much bigger".

"Interestingly, the age group is changing slightly, with more young people now taking up running," Sir Brendan said.

"The first Great North Run there were 8% of women running, last year 49% of the runners were women.

"I'm just so happy it's taking place here in the North East, it has become iconic."

Runners and spectators at the finishing line were treated to an aerial display by the Red Arrows

Broadcaster and fitness coach Joe Wicks was among those taking part.

He was also one of the starters at Saturday's Junior Great North Run, which saw more than 12,000 children race.

Wicks, who turns 40 later this month, said: "It's all about moving. I'm not here to run fast."

He said during the race: "It's an amazing atmosphere… this is the best run in the world."

Reality star Jake Quickenden joined the Simpsons in the race...

...while many runners will have been praying for a good finish time

A group of Ukrainian refugee women who live in Sunderland also took part.

They were raising money for the Salvation Army who helped them settle in the UK.

People have been seen running in all types of costumes, including Captain Jack Sparrow, Scooby Doo and Dennis the Menace.

People in various costumes took part in the race for charity

Colin Burgin-Plews, from South Shields, is well known for running charity races in a big pink dress and other flamboyant outfits.

Mr Burgin-Plews, who ran the race for Cancer Research UK, said his latest effort was for his father who died from cancer earlier this year.

"He was here every year for me," he said.

Boxer Tommy Fury also took part. Before the race, he said his body was "really feeling it" after running a triathlon last weekend.

"[I am] just looking to get over the line in one piece to be honest," he said.