A record crowd turned out to pound the streets around Wrexham for the annual Village Bakery half marathon.

The event, which saw almost 2,000 runners tackle the 13.1 mile course starting from the Clubhouse at Wrexham Industrial Estate, was hailed a great success.

2018 marked the third successive year of record entry numbers, up from about 1,700 in 2017 and 1,000 in 2016.

The predominantly flat-course race, which has been going for more than 20 years, is popular with some of the fastest runners in the region as well as those tackling the distance for the first time.

Runners set off from near The Clubhouse at Wrexham Industrial Estate and ran a five-mile lap followed by a longer, eight-mile loop, finishing back near The Clubhouse.

The event is organised by Cheshire-based Cute Fruit Events with help from Wrexham Amateur Athletics Club.

Organiser Mike Harrington said: "It was fantastic. There were a lot of people who came to see the runners at the start and finish, as well as along the route.

"We had a record number of runners with almost 2,000 people taking part from all over Wales.

"I think we will have to go some way to beat those numbers but in terms of size I think we have reached capacity at the moment.

"It is all down to parking - if any local businesses want to come forward to help with parking I don't think there's any reason we can't get that number up to about 3,000 in the future. The appetite is definitely there."

In first place with a time of 01.08.42 was Trafford Athletic Club runner Tom Charles of the senior category.

He was followed by second place Salford Harriers runner Carl Hardman in the senior category with a time of 01.09.23 and third place Tipton Harriers runner Martin Williams in the vet 40 category with a time of 01.11.11.

The Village Bakery Half Marathon was devised by successful triathlete and ‘Iron Man’ Peter Norman, 77.

He established the event in 1995 when he was working as a maintenance engineer with the Village Bakery who have sponsored the event since.