Around 15,000 runners pounded the streets of Birmingham in the city’s half marathon – led by one of the greatest athletes in the world.

Birmingham was awash with a sea of colourful superheroes, cuddly animals and even giant fruit yesterday as thousands of runners donned costumes to raise cash for charity.

Some 60,000 supporters lined the streets to cheer on the runners in the Bupa Great Birmingham Run which was screened live on Channel Five.

Many were there to catch a glimpse of Ethiopian running legend Haile Gebrselassie, who won the race with a time of 61 minutes and 29 seconds.

A host of elite runners, members of West Midlands running clubs, celebrities and charity runners took part.

Among them was West Bromwich’s Blind Dave who described the day as “unbelievable”.

“It’s about time Birmingham had something like this,” he said.

Other runners included Kelly Jones, a PE teacher at Coseley School. She raised money for cancer research in memory of family and friends who had battled the disease. “I felt very emotional and cried towards the finishing line,” said Kelly, 30, from Stourbridge.

The event was previously known as the Birmingham Half Marathon.

Gebrselassie thanked people for their support along the route, which he described as being “hilly”.

The women’s race was won by Gemma Steel, ahead of Louise Damen and Lucy MacAliser. Phil Hogg won the wheelchair race.

A Facebook group has been set up at www.facebook.com/greatbirminghamrun