FORGET The Cheltenham Festival - Sedgefield Racecourse hosted its own racing extravaganza last week with 800 runners in the field all raising money for charity.

It wasn't horses that completed three laps of the track on Friday, but students from Sedgefield Community College.

Nearly every pupil and teacher from the school, and staff from Sedgefield Town Council, galloped or cantered around the course's emergency track - to ensure the main track remained in peak condition - in the first Sedgefield fun run.

Some people had endured weeks of training and others turned up on the day and completed the course at their own pace.

Headteacher Lynne Ackland said: "We are a sports college so an event like this, coupled with health awareness messages, reminds pupils about the importance of being active."

All the money raised will be donated to Sedgefield Town Mayor Jim Wayman's charity appeal, for The Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust, Great North Air Ambulance, young people in the village and Cancer Research.

Coun Wayman said: "I came up with the fun run idea, the school took it on board and organised a wonderful event.

"There are so many bad things said about kids, but they've shown with a bit of responsibility and a cause they care about they can do us proud.

"We have four young people in the village with leukaemia who have inspired us all to raise funds to support them."

Ms Ackland added: "It is also about being part of the community by contributing to the mayor's charities, which was their preferred charity, and cancer charities, which are close to their hearts."