More than 1,000 runners put themselves through their paces at a charity run near Norwich to raise money for research into cancer.

Many of the runners in Cancer Research's Run 10k at The Norfolk Showground had lost friends and loved ones to the disease and were determined to raise money to help combat cancer.

With the names of parents, grandparents, sons and daughters and close friends pinned to their backs, some ran the 10km course at Costessey, while others enjoyed a more leisurely jog or even a stroll.

Gemma Turpin, Cancer Research UK event manager for Norfolk, said: 'It was absolutely fantastic. We had 1,158 men and women involved and that's amazing for a first time event.

'The atmosphere was brilliant and the day could not have gone any better. Everybody got round the course and after a week where we had torrential downpours, the weather was perfect. It was like a summer's day.

'For everyone there it is more than just a run, with many running because relatives have died because of cancer. It's a fantastic way to bring everyone together.

'We all have the same goal - to find a cure for cancer - and this pulls everyone together to raise money to work towards that.'

Run 10k, which is in its eighth year started in 2003 with just three events, but has grown enormously since then.

This was the first year the Run 10K event has been staged at The Norfolk Showground and organisers are optimistic they will hit their target to raise �78,000.