THE 34th Bupa Great North Run turned out to be doubly memorable.

Mo Farah became the first British runner to take the men’s title since Steve Kenyon clinched it back in 1985, four years after the inaugural Great North Run attracted just 12,000 runners.

And a charity runner made history by becoming its millionth finisher – the first time it has happened anywhere in the world.

A record 57,000 runners were seen off from Newcastle city centre by Lord Sebastian Coe and saluted with a traditional Red Arrows fly past.

In bright sunshine they were cheered on by thousands lining the 13-mile route to the seafront finish at South Shields.

Many decided to inject some fun into the day by donning outlandish costumes including Spiderman, Zippy from 1970s children’s TV programme Rainbow, Scooby Doo and a pantomime dromedary,

There was the usual sprinkling of celebrities taking part, including football pundit Robbie Savage, Ex-Spice Girl Mel C and BBC Breakfast business presenter Steph McGovern from Middlesbrough.

They were joined by head coach of Durham County Cricket Club, just over a year after he suffered a heart attack, Horrible Histories author Terry Deary, who lives in Burnhope, County Durham, former Tyne Tees presenter Paul Frost and former England and Sunderland footballer Michael Gray.

Mo Farah pipped Kenyan Mike Kigan to the finishing line after a close contest in a time of one hour and a second.

Kenyan runner Mary Keitany set a course record in the elite women’s race, finishing in 65 minutes and 49 seconds, beating Briton Gemma Steel.

Another woman runner, Tracey Cramond, 51, from Darlington, earned her place in the record books when she became the millionth runner to finish the Great North Run.

She was running to raise money for the Butterwick Hospice, having lost her mother in 2013.

Phil Holbrook, of Hartlepool, completed his 23rd Great North Run less than three years after a car crash which claimed the life of his wife and left him in a coma and with 30 broken bones.

On the day that he turned 54, Mr Holbrook took 2 hours 43 minutes and seven seconds to complete the 13.1 mile run, raising money for Hartlepool and District Hospice as part of Team Sally Holbrook – a group running in memory of his wife, who had completed the run three times.

His injuries included 20 broken ribs, six breaks to his pelvis, shoulder blade and collar bone fractures, a severed coccyx, broken bones in his left arm, two spinal breaks and nerve damage to his left side.

“I always expected it would be an emotional day and it was, but it was thoroughly rewarding and an absolute joy to take part again," he said. "I think it’s time for a beer tonight!

“The Great North Run was always a target even when I was lying in bed but how realistic that was I didn’t know.”