Great North Run 2016: Mo Farah wins third time in a row

It is the third time in a row Mo Farah has won the Great North Run

Four-times Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah has won the Great North Run, becoming the first man to achieve three consecutive wins.

Fresh from winning two gold medals at the Rio Olympics, he pulled away in the last mile to win the half marathon from Newcastle to South Shields.

Tens of thousands of people are taking part in the 36th annual race.

The main race was started by Olympic 800m champion David Rudisha and County Durham bronze medallist Amy Tinkler.

Live Great North Run updates.

"I knew it was going to be hard work, Dathan ran a great race today, I know him well, we used to be training partners. He put his foot down and tried to get at me," Farah said.

"I like road running - it's a different pain, so I sometimes question myself, whether I should just stick to the track.

"It's good to finish the year on a high, what a year I've had. I just want to go home now, chill out, see the kids, get up to no good."

Farah mimicked the goal celebration of former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer as he finished the race

Farah's wife, Tania, was "very, very happy" with her time of 1:49 and joked "I'm dying" when she met the Olympic champion on the finish line.

The 13.1-mile run, has grown from 12,000 runners in 1981 to 57,000, many of whom raise money for charities.

Beginning in Newcastle, the half-marathon course finishes at South Shields and takes in iconic sights including the Tyne Bridge.

The men's wheelchair race was won by Mark Telford and the women's race by Vivian Cheruiyot.

The event also featured participants from 178 UN member states, more than any other running event in history, organisers say.

Rock bands Kaiser Chiefs and Kodaline, which has a band member taking part in the run, will perform at the inaugural "run, rock and raise" event at the Newcastle Metro Arena, with charities benefitting from the money raised.

The run completes a weekend of events including the Great North 5K, mini and junior Great North Run and the Great North City games, which took place on Tyneside on Saturday.

Earlier on Sunday morning, paralysed woman Claire Lomas who started her Great North Run on Wednesday wearing a "bionic suit" completed the route in South Shields.

The Red Arrows flew over runners crossing the Tyne Bridge

Many use the run to raise money for charity and take part in fancy dress

Thousands of runners took part in the Great North 5k on Saturday

Sam Hancox won the Great North 5k on Saturday

Young runners took on the Mini Great North Run around Tyneside