BBC NEWS | England | Tyne | Four men die in Great North Run

Four men die in Great North Run

Four men have died while taking part in the 25th Great North Run, police said.

The men were among 50,000 people running the 13-mile course in soaring temperatures from Newcastle to South Shields on Sunday.
Northumbria Police said there had been no major incidents during the event and the deaths were unrelated.

The Men's Race was won by Eritrean Zersenay Tadesse in 59 minutes 5 seconds, beating the previous record by one second.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said: "I can confirm four male participants in the race have died, which is more than the usual one or two - but every year more people are taking part."
He added further details would be released later.

Ethiopian Deratu Tulu clinched victory in the woman's race in 67 minutes 33 seconds.

The Great North Run is the largest half marathon in the world.

First off were the wheelchair competitors and in the men's race David Wear from Surrey, who last won in 2003, smashed the British record finishing in a time of 42 minutes 39 seconds.

A host of celebrities are also took part, including former Doctor Who Christopher Eccleston, and BBC football commentator John Motson.