STEPHEN PULLINGER Fun runners from professional racing drivers, lifeboatmen, airmen and local politicians took part in Sport Relief Miles across the region at the weekend.

STEPHEN PULLINGER

Fun runners from professional racing drivers, lifeboatmen, airmen and local politicians took part in Sport Relief Miles across the region at the weekend.

More than 20,000 people in the east of England donned a red sock and went the extra mile on Saturday - many in fancy dress - for the biannual event, which aims to tackle global poverty.

About 500 spectators, track officials, and drivers took to the tarmac at Snetterton during the race track's British Formula 3 and GT championships.

Marshals waved 'slow moving traffic' flags whilst participants ran, jogged or walked from the Revett straight to the finishing line at 6.15pm following the first GT race of the weekend.

In Sheringham, lifeboat crew - dressed in their full gear - mingled with fancy dress figures including a couple in African tribal gear and their children trussed together as Siamese twins.

About 200 people, including North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb, took part in the dash from the Splash leisure complex, down the Boulevard and on to the seafront, finishing at the fishermen's slipway, where the Sheringham Shantymen were singing seafaring songs.

In Gorleston, around 500 athletes turned up to race their mile along a clifftop circuit. Some even chose to wheel their bikes, walk their dogs and push babies in buggies.

Organiser John Pamplin, Yarmouth Borough Council's sports development officer, said: “We ended up with two races because of the tremendous turnout and because it was a tight course.”

Other fully booked Sport Relief Miles were also held at Earlham High School, in Norwich, and RAF Honington, near Thetford.