THE promise of a delicious hot chocolate spurred on some 500 runners taking part in The Run for Hot Chocolate 5K in Boscombe on Sunday.

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Many families and children - some as young as five - were among those taking part in the fun event at Kings Park- which saw runners rewarded at the finish line with a steaming mug of hot chocolate, topped with cream and marshmallows.

As Susie Dodd, who ran with daughters Marnie, seven, and 12-year-old Tabatha, put it: "If anything is going to get children out of bed on a cold February morning its hot chocolate. It's great to be doing something as a family."

The event, which is supported by Cadbury, is the brainchild of Martyn Edwards from Windsor, who launched the inaugural event in Southampton in November, and has further runs planned across the country.

He told the Echo it was "the only hot chocolate themed run out there."

"There are a lot of families running, a lot of children. It's a fun run - it doesn't matter if you walk, jog or run. Some people will take an hour, others 20 minutes. It's not timed, there's no pressure. Everyone is a winner. Everyone gets their hot chocolate at the end."

The cold crisp weather could not have fitted better with the hot chocolate theme - and it certainly helped incentivise Joseph Sherwood, 16, who finished first in around 20 minutes.

Regular runner Trish Henners from Bournemouth said: "It was great fun - really well run. I think it's amazing the amount of children here and families - it's a brilliant idea."

For Anne Gawler it was her first 5k event after losing four stone in less than a year. "I just wanted to enter one which was not too hard core and too serious."

She also entered her pal Dawn Scarborough, who ran with her: "Everyone was really friendly," she added.

Reni McPhail from Dorchester, took part with her whole family, including five-year-old Ewan, who managed a sprint finish, and eight-year-old Isla. Isla told the Echo she liked running, but the best bit was "the hot chocolate", of course.