Over 1,100 British Heart Foundation (BHF) runners took on the AJ Bell Great North Run.

The determined BHF runners joined 60,000 other participants to take on the 13.1 miles from Newcastle to South Shields, all to fund lifesaving research.

This year’s run, which took place on September 8, helped the charity to raise £496,000.

This will go towards finding new cures and treatments for the 7.6 million people in the UK living with heart and circulatory conditions.

Among the runners was former professional footballer Fraser Franks, who took on the challenge after major open-heart surgery just a year ago.

Mr Franks, 32, said: "What an experience and what an event.

"I can’t believe I finished it.

"Knowing I was going to see my five-year-old daughter Nellie at the finish line kept me going.

"She’s my biggest drive."

Also running for Team BHF was Emma Phillips, a doctor who took part to honour her father, who passed away from a cardiac arrest when she was 22.

Ms Phillips said: "This was a very emotional but proud run for me.

"I ran for the BHF in his memory in the hope of supporting future lifesaving research into conditions such as my dad’s."