RUNNERS from all over the country took to the streets of Hereford on Sunday to take part in the St Michael's Hospice annual half-marathon.

The sun was shining as the 466 entrants set off from Hereford Leisure Centre, Holmer Road.

The winner was Stephen Paterson of San Dominico Club, who finished with a time of 1hour 14 minutes and 5 seconds. Second was Mike Seighan of Exeter Harriers, with 1.16.11 and in third place was Paul Mountford of Tipton Harriers, with 1.18.36.

17 year old Felix Leech, a student at Hereford Sixth-Form College who featured in last weeks Hereford Times, finished in a respectable 41st place with a time of 1.31.50, quite an achievement in his first attempt at the race.

The first female over the finish line was Lorna Williams of Clifford, Herefordshire, her time of 1.27.52 being enough to make her the winner of the women's race for the third time in five years.

For those who didn't feel they could take on all 13.1 miles of the course, relay teams of up to four runners could also enter. The winning team was M&Ms, made up of Geraint Davies, Ben Boswell, Alex Playford and Iain Hutchinson, who came in on the final leg at 1.34.22.