MORE than 1,000 runners took part in a charity event.

The 34th annual Great Baddow Charity Races were held at the Baddow Recreation Grounds with 1,300 fundraisers taking part in events.

Paralympic Gold Medal winning athlete Danny Crates was on hand to start the race.

Other special guests included Town Crier Tony Atherton and Patricia Hughes, mayor of Chelmsford.

There were two races held at the recreational ground. The first was a two-mile fun run where people were invited to run in fancy dress, with their dogs and even with children in prams.

The second race was a 10-mile road race for the serious runners on the day.

The event was a great success with about 500 runners in the fun run and more than 800 entered in the 10-mile run.

The event allows runners to raise funds for a good cause of their choice but the main charities supported included Kids Inspire and Home Start Chelmsford Organisers said it was a fun fair-like atmosphere on the day with stalls selling hot dogs, burgers, candy floss, running gear, and much more.

It is expected that the event raised thousands of pounds for charity.