MORE than 850 runners managed to complete Darlington's annual road run despite Sunday's storm.

Thunder and lightning broke out just before the 10km race began at 10.30am and competitors had to dodge flooding on the roads as they made their way along the two-circuit town centre route, finishing on High Row.

The run was organised by Darlington Borough Council and Darlington Rotary Club.

Jeff Dawson, of the council's leisure services, said: "Apart from the horrendous weather, the race went very well. The runners said it was a really good atmosphere. It shows we can stage this event whatever is thrown at us."

Race winner was Martin Scaife in 31.01 minutes. About 250 runners took part in the fun run and 3.5km junior road run.

* Sunday staff at Darlington and Simpson Rolling Mills Club in Longfield Road watched in horror as a large tree split in half and crashed to the ground. Manageress Alison Rogers said it was lucky the car park was empty.

"If it had been an hour later the car park would have been packed with the vehicles of people coming for Sunday lunch," she said.

"It was a massive tree and we think it was struck by lightning though it was hard to see much in the storm. It just disintegrated."

Police reported a surge of calls during the storm on Sunday morning. A spokesman said 18 calls out of 24 in the morning were storm-related. "Incidents ranged from trees crashing to the ground to temporary traffic lights falling over and road traffic accidents," he said. "

The North-East Ambulance Service said it received 45 calls, not all storm-related, throughout the day in Darlington.