GREAT fun was had by runners, walkers and bikers at the 33rd annual George Skeates Fun Run in Stockbridge.

Strong winds and heavy overnight rain made the cross country course difficult – but 162 people braved through the slippy underfoot on Sunday.

Beneficiaries this year include Wessex Heartbeat based in Southampton, The INSPIRE Foundation and Horatio’s garden both based near Salisbury.

A spokesman for the event said: “Sincere thanks to the participants, volunteers, local business who donated refreshments and raffle prizes and also to the landowners who enable us to keep off road as much as possible. All these ingredients came together and made for another successful event.”

This year’s event raised around £3,000 and the event is expected to return on January 10 2021.

The first Stockbridge Fun Run was held in 1986 and was organised by Michael Crossman in order to raise money for champion sidecar racer George Skeates, who had suffered a severe spinal injury in a racing accident in 1985. Since then, the event has grown to raise tens of thousands of pounds for charity.