Runners soaked up the sunshine as they took part in the second annual charity fun run in Braintree.

More than 90 runners sweated out both the three-mile and six-mile courses which started at Braintree Leisure Centre yesterday.

The circular route then took the competitors via Coldnailhurst Avenue, Church Lane and Deanery Hill.

The Braintree and Bocking Rotary Club, which arranged the event, hailed the fun run a bigger success than last year.

Co-organiser David Sutton said: "A lot of people helped to make this a tremendous event. We had about 30 people registering on the day and I'm sure the weather made a difference.

"It was run superbly by the police and we'd like to say thank-you to the sponsors and groups that helped make this a reality."

Robert Malseed emerged victorious in the men's six-mile race for the second year running after staving off the challenge of Graham Pratt and Ian Fosken.

The women's race was won by Heather Cordell with Amelda Massicote in second place and Lisa Brooks in third. Maurice Young won the oldest runner award.

The three-mile men's race was won by Mark Jasper followed by Gordon Shrimpton and Danny Clark.

The women's race was won by Danielle Tatum who beat Sarah Pentelow and Emily Gardiner to the tape. Peter Emery won the trophy for oldest runner.

Details of how much money was raised will be announced at a later date.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.