BRIGHTON was a sea of people yesterday as more than 12,000 tackled the city’s eighth annual marathon in balmy conditions.

It is estimated more than 150,000 lined the streets to cheer on the runners as they snaked past the city’s best known sights.

The main event attracted around 12,500 runners while thousands more took part in the BM10k and Saturday’s Mini Mile for youngsters.

The race started from Preston Park with Brighton and Hove Albion manager Chris Hughton setting the runners on their way.

With temperatures reaching 20C there was little hope of a course record, and so it proved.

Still the elite runners put in recorded solid times in the absence of top African talent.

Stuart Hawkes made history by becoming the first British winner of the event with a finishing time of two hours 27 minutes and 36 seconds.

He was followed by Ollie Garrod and Jon Pepper, who runs for Brighton Phoenix, in third.

They finished within 25 seconds of each other.

Shortly after finishing, Mr Hawkes said: “What a run that was.

“I just want to say a big thanks to all those supporting this year.

“It was a hard race because of the heat but what a feeling to cross that line and see all those friendly faces in the stands by the beach.

“I know that I really felt the energy and crowd support here with huge cheers as I approached the last stretch.”

In the women’s race, Helen Davies crossed the finish line first with a time of two hours, 42 minutes and 40 seconds.

She was followed by Hayley Munn in second place and Helen Buller, from Worthing, in third, both finishing in under three hours.

Following the elite field were the thousands of fun runners and those raising money for charity.

They came across the finishing line in Madeira Drive throughout the afternoon.

The weather took its toll on many with some residents on the course choosing to get their hosepipes out to cool the runners down.

Peter Crowfield, 40, a store manager from Worthing, said: “I finished the race in just under four and a half hours like I aimed to.

“People have been supporting me throughout and all the funds I manage to raise will be going to Great Ormond Street Hospital to help children that are really in desperate need of support.

“This was my first marathon and I am still unsure whether it will be my last but what a tremendous experience and today has given me some memories I will never forget.”

Volunteers and staff from a wide variety of charities were spread across the course, cheering on runners and helping them to cool down.

Marion Buggins, from Macmillan Cancer Trust, said: “We had 482 runners make up our biggest team yet and raised £225,000.”

Kate Smith, of Cancer Research UK, said its runners had raised more than £400,000 between them.

Chestnut Tree House hospice, near Arundel, expected its 300 plus runners to match the total from last year – £91,000.

Organisers declared the event a success with entries already open for next year.

  • Additional reporting by Nammie Matthews and Tom Johnson

SPECTACLE OF COLOUR AS THE CITY SHOWS IT KNOWS HOW TO HAVE FUN IN THE SUNSHINE

NOWHERE puts on a show quite like Brighton – and yesterday it surpassed itself.

Some unseasonably hot weather played its part, encouraging vast crowds of spectators to line the sunny streets to cheer on thousands of runners.

The city was rammed and traders were doing a roaring trade in drink and ice creams.

The place was so busy people found it difficult to get a mobile phone signal for much of the day.

By early afternoon, with the mercury pushing the 20C mark, people living along the route took pity on the athletes and brought out their hose pipes to cool them off.

The race attracted the usual colourful crowd in fancy dress – and they were wilting more than most in the heat.

Among those pounding the pavement were a rhino complete with horn, a round-bellied Michelin man and a unicorn.

There was even a firefighter kitted out in full uniform with an oxygen tank on his back, raising money for the children’s charity Make-a-Wish.

There was a carnival of entertainment along much of the course with dancers, singers and musicians, including the Silver Sounds band, who were at The Level.

There was a mix of exhaustion and elation in the Event Village as the weary runners crossed the finishing line throughout the afternoon.

Among them was Kyle Stott, 29, who travelled down from York for the day.

He said: “It went OK but it was just far too hot for me, my neck started to feel numb and prickly half way round.

“I had to stop for a bit but I finished in three hours 44 minutes, so I am really proud of that.

“As part of a group of four we have raised a total of £7,000 for the Air Ambulance Service. It is all in memory of my cousin Jason who sadly passed away after a car accident.”

Phil Woodgate, 28, came down from London.

He said: “It really was a tough race out there today. Half way around, my left knee was absolutely shot, so I had to walk for parts and ended up finishing in five hours 30 minutes.

“I am raising money for Tommy’s which is a charity for young babies after a family member sadly gave birth to a stillborn child.”

Event director Tom Naylor hailed the eighth marathon the best to date.

He said: “We had record numbers of runners in all events and a fantastic new Event Village. With the amazing weather, it was a perfect weekend.”