Thousands of participants took to the streets of St Helens this morning to race in a 10k charity race.

The race has become an annual event in the local running season, with the aim to raise money for the Steve Prescott Foundation.

The foundation acts as the legacy of former rugby league player Steve Prescott MBE, who died in 2013 from a rare form of abdominal cancer.

Before his death, he formed the SPF to raise funds and awareness for Try Assist, formerly The Rugby League Benovelnet Fund, as well as the Christie Hospital in Manchester.

He undertook many extreme physical and mental challenges during his illness to raise funds and the 10k race continues his legacy with many supporting it since its creation.

The course took the runners around St Helens before finishing in St Helens’ Totally Wicked Stadium.

To be exact, 1790 people completed the course from those who regularly compete to those racing for the first time.

A trio of St Helens Sutton Athletic Club members ran the fastest, with club chairman Matt Crehan recording a time of 31:26, with Jon-Jo Doherty coming in over a minute later at 32:48.

Third position went to student Charlie Roberts at 33:13. Roberts is set to compete for Merseyside in the English Schools Cross Country Championships in two weeks time.

The fastest female was Jade Smith who finished at 39:46.

The entire race was divided into separate categories based on age and gender. For both male and female, there was an open category and then separate categories from 40+ and upwards.

Athletes from St Helens Sutton Athletic Club, Knowsley Harriers, St Helens Striders, Liverpool Run Bugs, Kirkby Millers, Warrington AC, Southport Waterloo AC, Liverpool Harriers AC, Widnes Wasps Running Club and Liverpool Pembroke & Sefton Harriers all competed.

Ex-Rugby stars were in the town to compete with Rugby AM’s Wayne Godwin completing the event in a time of 45:35, all whilst wearing little clothing.

The full results can be found here.

The event will return next year on March 7th and tickets can already be bought for at an early bird offer.