MORE than 1,400 runners took part in the Taunton Marathon and Half Marathon.

The two races started and finished outside the Somerset College in Wellington Road, the course taking in Oake and Bradford on Tone.

These villages provided an ideal vantage point to watch the runners, many of whom were raising money for charities.

Among the half marathon runners was BBC Points West news reporter Clinton Rogers, who lives at West Buckland. Despite little training he finished in a very respectable two hours 15 minutes.

It was not only a day for elite but for fun runners, whose sole aim was to get to the finishing line.