MORE than 300 people took part in Keighley's first official 10k race on Sunday, which has been hailed as a "great success" by organisers.

People from across the county gathered to run the BIGK 10K race to raise thousands of pounds for Manorlands hospice, in Oxenhope.

Keighley and Craven Athletic Club members turned out, but so did novice runners and those participating competitively for the first time.

Organiser John Dennis, from sportKeighley said that it was nice that some people experienced parts of Keighley they had never seen before.

He said: "People have said they didn't realise how lovely Devonshire Park is and they didn't even know it existed.

"We have also had lots of people running one mile for Sports Relief and lots of people who do not normally run take part for charity, which is great to see."

The BIGK 10K was won by Will Smith, 32, from Keighley and Craven Athletic Club, who said it was a special race for him. He completed the course in just 34 minutes and 13 seconds.

He said: "I was running it for my next-door neighbour Maureen Beddoes, who has cancer. I said if I won, I would dedicate the race to her.

"It was a good route, really interesting, it went through all the parks in Keighley."

His partner Helen Glover, 23, was the first woman over the finishing line and said she was surprised to win.

Finishing in 40 minutes and 18 seconds, she said: "I did not have a clue I was going to win because I didn't know who was going to turn up but I was pleased."

Other participants included Kris Hopkins, Conservative Party prospective parliamentary candidate for Keighley, who said that it was really good to see the range of people participating in the race.

He said: "People young and old from different backgrounds were out there running and supporting. It is the fact that people can come together for a really enjoyable event that makes it special for me."

Everyone who raised money was thanked by organiser Andrew Wood, from Manorlands.

Mr Wood said: "Thank you to all the organisers involved and the marshals, everyone has worked together really well on this and it has been a huge success."