RUNNERS descended on Kings Park, braving a chilly winter morning to take part in the Boscombe 10k race.

The run, organised by the Bournemouth Joggers ladies running club, was sold out with hundreds of experienced runners and enthusiastic beginners taking part.

See all our pictures from the Boscombe 10k in a gallery here

The Kings Park Athletic Stadium also saw 3k and 1.5k fun run events for under-15s in the morning, as well as a Total Body Works sports massage tent and the pavilion café selling hot drinks and bacon sandwiches for the returning runners and their patient families.

Runner Mark Wood, 37, compared the race favourably with the Bournemouth Bay Run earlier this year.

“It is only the second 10k run I have done but I thought it was a better route than the Bay Run,” he said.

“It was more hilly and challenging, but I still managed to smash my previous time so I am very pleased. It was the ideal weather for running today, not too cold and not too windy.

“Also it is a very friendly and well marshalled event.”

Mr Wood, from Wimborne, was cheered to the finish line by his partner Faye, and youngsters Grace, three, and Jake, 17 months, among several hundred spectators lining the athletics track.

“It is a very good turnout, which is nice and must be good news for the area,” he added.

The event - which took competitors along Christchurch Road and Littledown Common, across the Wessex Way and around Queen's Park before looping back to the stadium - raised funds for the Bournemouth Hospital Charity.

All participants also collected a prize at the end of the race.