There was plenty of excitement on the banks of the Tyne yesterday (Saturday)for the Bupa Junior and Mini Great North Run.

The event takes place before the 30th Great North Run today, the world's biggest half marathon.

The Mini Great North Run was for girls and boys aged three to eight-years-old and covered a mile.

The Bupa Junior Great North Run is for boys and girls aged nine to 11 and for boys and girls aged 12 to 16 - both over three miles.

Characters from the BBC’s children’s programme ZingZillas were on hand to set off the thousands of youngsters in the Mini Great North Run.

The boys winner in the first wave of mini runners was James Salt from Penrith, Cumbria, Daniel Buffham from Newcastle was first across the line in the second mini boys wave and in the third wave James Garraghan from Peterlee, County Durham was first across the line.

Taking place later in the day was the Bupa Junior Great North Run. Winner of the younger three mile, 9-11 year contest was 11-year-old Olivia Bateman of Birtley Athletics Club in the girls contest (19:25) and the boys race was won by Markhim Lonsdale of Gateshead Harriers & AC also 11 years of age (17:08).

Winning the girls 12 to 16 age group, also three miles was 13-year-old Lydia Turner of Birtley Athletics Club (17:27) and the boys race was won by 16 year old Joshua Schofield of Scarborough Athletics Club (15:09).

Results

Bupa Junior Great North Run Girls 9-11 years: 1 Olivia Bateman, Birtley Athletics Club (19:25); 2 Rhain Purves, Gosforth Harriers & AC (19:36); 3 Eleanor Twite, Sale Harriers Manchester (19:37).

Bupa Junior Great North Run Boys 9-11 years: 1 Markhim Lonsdale, Gateshead Harriers & AC (17:08); 2 Charlie Lowrie, Wharfedale Harriers (17:49); 3 Alfie Manthorpe, City of Sheffield AC (18:02).

Bupa Junior Great North Run Girls 12-16 years: 1 Lydia Turner, Birtley Athletics Club (17:27); 2 Mollie Williams, Stockport Harriers & AC (17:40); 3 Katy Wood, City of York AC (17:43).

Bupa Junior Great North Run Boys 12 -16 years: 1 Joshua Schofield, Scarborough Athletics Club (15:09); 2 Shaun Barras, Jarrow & Hebburn AC (15:14); 3 Liam James Ayton, Durham City Harriers & AC (15:30).