THE famous Chariots of Fire theme tune heralded the start of a challenge straight from the movies on Monday.

Cheered on by an excited crowd at Palace Green, Durham Cathedral, nine nervous athletes took their marks for the region's first ever npower dash.

As noon approached, the music being piped from loudspeakers died away, and the runners were given a countdown to the race's start. Then, with the first midday chime, they were off, haring round the quadrangle of Palace Green in a scene straight from Chariots of Fire, the Oscar-winning film on which the race is based.

As in the 1981 film, competitors in the npower dash attempt to complete the 400m course before the final noon chime.

The race was started by Durham County Cricket Club captain Jonathan Lewis and Keith Willans, chairman of St Cuthbert's Hospice, which was chosen as the day's beneficiary.

It was preceded by the npower Family 5k Run from Prebends Bridge, in which a prize was awarded for the best fancy dress, and a pedal power challenge with npower donating £2 to St Cuthbert's Hospice for every kilometre completed.

At Palace Green the competitors' attitude was deadly serious, with a silver trophy up for grabs for the winner.

Among those taking part were accomplished athletes like English schools 400m champion Craig Glanville and North-East county 400m schools champion Chris Campbell, both from Gateshead Harriers; as well as Durham Harriers Peter Coates, Steve Clifford and Shaun Moralee.

Another runner - Tom Curry, president of Durham University's athletics union, had a special reason for competing, as his grandfather Peter took part in the 3,000m steeplechase in the 1948 Olympics and was involved in the making of Chariots of Fire. But the laurels went to 1,500m runner and winner of this year's Lichfield dash James Thie, from Cardiff Athletics Club, who completed the two-lap course in 51.6 seconds, just beating the final midday chime at 52 seconds.

It is planned to make the Durham dash an annual event.