They were among many donning fancy dress to make sure Birmingham’s EDF Energy Half Marathon raised smiles and laughs as well as plenty of money for charity.

Runners ranged from the very good to the not so good, but very determined – and all helped ensure the success of the event.

Some 12,000 took part and most made it home happy and unscathed, although ten were taken to hospital, 17 were treated by paramedics and 79 were seen by the St John Ambulance staff.

Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes, who started the race and shook the hands of runners as they crossed the finish line, summed up the day as “brilliant”.