THE majestic Raby Castle and its beautiful deer park was the setting for an annual athletics event.

Hundreds of runners took part in the annual Raby Castle Races 2019, hosted by Teesdale Athletics Club on Sunday.

After tackling a hilly opening stretch and passing through woodland, runners were rewarded with a view of the lake and castle on the home straight.

Skye Archer, race director and secretary of Teesdale Athletic Club, said: "We had a really good day.

"The numbers could have been better, but overall it was a successful day. We all really enjoyed it and look forward to doing it again next year."

Among those running was Benjamin Hawskby, 10, of Staindrop, who was raising money for the wards at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary, where his five-year-old brother Joshua, is being treated for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

The event featured runs of various lengths – 265 people took part in the main 10k, 121 did the 5k and shorter routes, especially for youngsters, of 3k and 1.2k were completed by about 80 runners each.

The 10k was won by Ian Dixon of the Sunderland Harriers, while the first woman over the line was Louise Talman, of Darlington Harriers.

Joshua Wraith, of Durham City Harriers & AC won the 5k fun run, with Chloe Fairclough of Birtley AC being the first female over the line.