63,000 runners participate in the 45th Great North Run

The Great North Run (GNR) returned to Tyneside this weekend, with 63,000 runners taking part in the world's biggest half marathon - including Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

England star and Newcastle captain Dan Burn rang the starter's bell, with famous faces including football personality Chris Kamara and fitness coach Joe Wicks taking on the challenge.

The 13.1-mile (21km) event saw runners and wheelchair users race from Newcastle through Gateshead and South Tyneside, before finishing in South Shields.

Britons David Weir and Melanie Woods won the men's and women's elite wheelchair races respectively. Brigid Kosgei won the elite women's contest and Zouhair Talbi won the men's race.

The half marathon is in its 45th year and raises about £25m for charity each time.

Tens of thousands of people lined the route on the very warm, sunny day.

Runners were treated to a Red Arrows flyover the Tyne Bridge at the start and again at the end of the route on The Leas in South Shields.

The prime minister said he was "very happy" with his finish time of under two hours and was raising money for North East charity Changing Lives, which he visited last month to launch a national drive to end rough sleeping.

"You see the causes people are running for, all pulling together for the bigger cause," Burnham said.

"It's just a day that reminds you how good this country is when it's together like this.

"This part of the world - it doesn't half shine on a day like this.

"The warmth of the people comes out - the people in the race with you, the people on the sidelines."

As always, runners donned a variety of costumes in the bid to raise funds for good causes.

Among them were nuns, horses and a pair of ovaries.