RUNNERS had a spring in their step on Sunday as more than 350 people took part in the first Devizes half marathon to take place in March.

Hundreds of people gathered on the green to cheer on the competitors with Devizes Deputy Mayor Roger Giraud-Saunders getting the race underway at 9.30am.

The first to finish was James Jennings of Stafford Triathlon, winning the course in just under one hour 18 minutes and the women’s race was won by Natalie Plummer, who crossed the finish line in one hour 24 minutes.

Electrical engineer Gary Wootton, who is attempting to run three half marathons in three weeks to raise money for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance, finished the race with a personal best of one hour 58 minutes.

Mr Wootton said: “ The atmosphere was really good, people in the villages came out to cheer us on along with the big crowd on The Green.

"Conditions were hard but it was the right temperature and the rain held off."

Sunday’s race was the forth running of the race and was sponsored by DS Smith Packaging.

The course started on Church Walk, next to The Green, before going down Nursteed Road and headed towards Monument Hill and on a tour of the villages Etchilhampton, All Cannings and Coate before competitors looped back onto Nursteed road and finished on The Green.

The only road closure was on Church Walk,between its junctions with Nursteed Road and Brickley Lane, from 8am until 1pm.