FROM fairies to fun-runners, Ealing's half marathon brought streets to a sweaty standstill this Sunday.

Runners set off from Lammas Park in warm and sunny conditions with spectators providing the support around the 13.1 mile course.

Thousands of pounds were raised for numerous charities with Guy Stapleford, 35, from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire dressed as a fairy and running for Make-A-Wish.

Mr Stapleford, who completed the race in 1:51.13, is aspiring to complete 12 challenges in 12 months for the charity, with Ealing Half marathon being his tenth challenge and third half marathon.  

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“There were crowds all the way round the course and you don’t normally get that,” he said.

“There was a lot of energy and it was amazing, really, really great.”

Music blared from speakers outside houses and children gave Jelly Beans to encourage runners as they traversed the gentle undulations of Ealing’s streets.

Esme, eight-year-old daughter of race director Kelvin Walker, held a sign directed to all runners branded: “You are my favourite.”

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The race was won by Jonathan Poole, who has been selected to run for England at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon on 22 October, in a time of 1:08:05.6.

Isabel Clark clocked the fastest women’s time, finishing in 1:17:55.3.

With capacity for 7,000 runners, Ealing Half Marathon has gone from strength to strength having been voted the UK’s best half marathon in 2014, 2015 and 2016 at The Running Awards.

Whilst roads were closed to accommodate the race, most residents embraced the spirit of community to breakfast with neighbours and support family, friends and strangers alike.

Jane Rukin-White, 30, a surveyor from Stratford, east London said: “There was great support, it was a good course but with a few sneaky hills.”

For those not old enough to run the Ealing half marathon, The Ealing Mini Mile took place on Saturday 23 September and featured runners aged six to 16 running a mile around Lammas Park.

The unexpected 20 degree heat on a September Sunday made the race more difficult for those competing.

Tristan Poole, a 35-year-old finance analyst from Maidstone, Kent, said: “It was tougher than I expected it to be honest, the sun was beating down. The support was brilliant though, I loved it.”

With more than £1 million raised for charity by the race since 2012, The Ealing Half Marathon doesn’t look to be stopping anytime soon.