THE cream of the region’s running talent joined superheroes and young and old alike in taking part in this morning's Taylor Wimpey Tees Pride 10k.

But the reality was that everyone taking part, even those who weren’t dressed as the likes of The Hulk, Spiderman and Wonder Woman, could claim to be a superhero.

The 10k, which is accompanied by a junior 3k fun run, raises hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity and is now in its 13th year.

It began on Middlesbrough’s Hall Drive with competitors finishing in the shadow of the town’s only grade I listed building, Acklam Hall.

Ethiopian Wondiye Fikre Indelbu was the first person across the finish line in a time of 30 minutes, 52 seconds.

Helen Butterfield, from Middlesbrough, was taking part in her first Tees Pride 10k, having only taken up running seriously in June last year and completed the course in one hour, seven minutes.

She said: “There was brilliant support from everybody. Lots of people enjoyed themselves raising money for charity.”

On a relatively humid morning, a resident in Keith Road took to using a hose pipe to spray runners.

Those taking part were also serenaded by various bands performing along the route. A number of roads were closed and later re-opened at about 2pm.

Race director Jimmy Wattis said: "The participation of the thousands who enter every year ensures we have an event that puts Middlesbrough on the map.

“People come from all over for this. The day has been a great success without a shadow of a doubt.”