IT was sweet success for this year's charity doughnut dash with more than 280 people taking part in the event to raise funds for Kidney Research UK.

Runners munched their way through more than 1,000 doughnuts on the 5km course, with young competitors taking on mini races with mini doughnuts.

The event, now in its third year, takes place in Lower Castle Park with entrants stopping to eat a ringed doughnut every kilometre.

Organised by Katie Taylor, the sugary challenge is inspired by her husband Rhys’s kidney disease.

She said: “I did it as a one-off and then got really good feedback and it's just gone from there.

“Rhys is always in a lot of pain. He is very lethargic but can’t sleep because of the pain.”

There is a chance Rhys could go on to suffer kidney failure and need a transplant.

The family is hoping every penny raised for Kidney Research UK will help develop and improve treatments.

On Sunday, runners paid to take part and collected sponsorship for the cause.

Katie said: “It was really good.

“Everyone has good fun and it’s fun watching all the people struggling to eat the doughnuts, especially the last one,which is on the finish line. People underestimate how hard it is."

Greggs donated 1,500 doughnuts for the event as well as mini doughnuts for the children while Tesco Highwoods provided the bottled water.

Money is still being collected and counted, but it is expected to have raised more than £5,000.

See some fantastic photos from the doughnut dash in our two-page special in today's Gazette.