IT'S official - the Great North Run is the world's biggest half-marathon.

An announcement yesterday that the Guinness Book of Records has confirmed the record follows news that the event raised £8m for charity last year.

At the launch of this year's run, Nova marketing director David Hart said: "The news from the Guinness Book of Records is brilliant for the Bupa Great North Run.

"In the past we could have, from our own research, claimed the distinction - but now it's official."

Mr Hart said research by Northumbria University showed that last year's event raised an estimated £8m.

He said: "Although we nominate a charity, which will be Leukaemia Research again this year, people are welcome to run for a charity of their choice.

"We estimated that about 40 per cent of entrants do this."

Mr Hart said it was expected that even more money could be raised this year, with more people entering early to beat the demand for places.

Actors Christopher Eccleston and Chris Chittell - Eric Pollard in TV's Emmerdale - were on hand to help launch the event.

Mr Eccleston, who played the Duke of Norfolk in the film Elizabeth, said: "The Great North Run in 1993 was the first organised event I participated in. It still has the best atmosphere I have ever experienced.

"The response you get from Geordies who watch the race, the encouragement and the mickey-taking is unprecedented."

The course record remains the 60mins and two seconds set by Benson Masya, of Kenya, in 1994.