NODDY, Mario, Mickey Mouse, Dennis the Menace, Pc Plod, Rocky – and even a couple of Tractor Boys – lined up with serious athletes for the annual Sudbury Fun Run, yesterday.

More than 700 people gathered at the start line in Great Eastern Road to tackle the five-mile circular course on a chilly, but bright morning.

Town mayor Jack Owen set them off on the route which took in Market Hill, Cornard Road, Kings Hill, Bures Road, Blackhouse Lane, Well Hall Road, Carsons Drive, Shawlands Avenue and Newton Road, finishing at Belle Vue Park.

Up to 500 took part in the run with athletes represented from a host of clubs including those from Sudbury, Bury St Edmunds, Great Bentley, Stowmarket, Harwich, Braintree, Bungay, Ipswich Jaffa, Ipswich Triathlon Club, Colchester Harriers and Halstead Road Runners.

First over the line was Andrew Ridley, in 26min 25sec, followed by Tom Cammack 27:14 and third Robert Reason 27:49.

A total of 200 fun runners and walkers turned out to not only keep fit but to raise money for a host of charities. Among those were nine staff from the Long Melford Surgery who dressed up as childrens’ characters to raise money for the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation.

One of them, Steph Devereux, (aka Angelina Ballerina) told how the foundation had been of great help as her one-year-old son had to undergo major surgery at King’s College Hospital, in London, for a liver transplant.

“The foundation donate a lot of money for research and they were a great help to us giving us information and advice,” she said.

Rocky turned up in his full boxing regalia under the guise of Anthony Scott, from Great Cornard. He has taken part in the event for the past five years and had completed the Malta Half Marathon last month, raising £1,700 for Cancer Research.

“But I’m doing the Sudbury one just for the fun of it,” he added.

Up to 50 youngsters from AFC Sudbury Grassroots also made the start line and also represented were members of Hadleigh Young Farmers who dressed up as tractors and a combine harvester, plus Paul Williams, who won the event four years on the trot from 1983 to 1986. Race director Jonathan Price said he was delighted with the event which has now been running for 31 years.

“Considering how the weather has been recently we were blessed and we were really pleased.”

Hundreds of spectators lined the route and Mr Price also paid tribute and thanks to the sponsors who included Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury and Sudbury Town Council.