A RUNNER pounded the streets for the 1,624th day in succession when he competed in a half-marathon yesterday.

Fresh from taking part in the Edinburgh Marathon and chaperoning model Nell McAndrew around the Great Manchester Run, Paul Smith completed yesterday’s Redcar Half-Marathon in an hour and 37 minutes.

He said: “I trained hard for Edinburgh, so this was easier as it was only half as long.

“It was nice and sunny, but there was a strong headwind in the last six miles which you can do without. The view was a bit like something out of beauty and the beast, with the juxtaposition of the beach and the steelworks.”

Mr Smith, from Durham City, who has been running every day for more than four years, said the race had been extremely well organised.

He said: “I will not be having a rest tomorrow, I will definitely be out running – I just love it".

Thousands of athletes and fun-runners made the most of the early morning sunshine to take part in the run along The Stray, which marked the start and finish line.

Commonwealth Games walker Jo Jackson was at the event, organised by Tees Valley Leisure.

She posted on Twitter: “Just back from starting the Redcar Half-Marathon and watching my nephew finish his first race in the fun run.

Well done Luke.”

Paralympic gold medallist Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, who lives in Redcar, entered the ten-mile wheelchair competition, and described it as a “bit windy”.