Liverpool Marathon attracts more than 9,000 runners

Thousands ran in Liverpool's first marathon for 18 years

More than 9,000 runners have been competing in the Liverpool Marathon.

Competitors set off from Birkenhead Park on the 26-mile route at about 10:15 BST.

About 30,000 people were expected to cheer the runners along through New Brighton, Queensway Tunnel, Liverpool Docks, Princes Park and Sefton Park.

Organisers said several roads along or near the route would be closed or have restricted access between the hours of 08:00 and 17:00 BST.

Roads on the Wirral side of the race, in Birkenhead, Wallasey and New Brighton, were expected to reopen by 13:00 BST, and on the Liverpool side by 17:00 BST.

The Birkenhead tunnel was closed from 06:00 until 14:30 BST.

The race ends on Liverpool's Pier Head, in the shadow of the Three Graces.

Competitors were due to start the race at 09:30 BST but it was delayed by about 45 minutes.

It is understood organisers decided to delay the race for traffic management and health and safety issues.

The marathon was the city's first in 18 years.

Chester also staged its marathon on Sunday, with a race which started and finished at Chester Racecourse.