RUNNERS, joggers and cyclists helped rid themselves of the January blues by taking part in a charity fun run in Hampshire.

More than 160 people took part in the George Skeates Stockbridge Fun Run which is in its 30th year.

The funds raised from the popular event on Sunday will go to the George Skeates Benevolent Fund - beneficiaries of which include spinal charity Inspire and Wessex Heartbeat.

George Skeates, a British sidecar racer who suffered a severe and disabling spinal injury in a motorsport accident in 1985 waved Union Flag to mark the start of the race.

George, who was a passenger in a motorcycle sidecar, spent months slowly adjusting to life in Salisbury District Hospital’s Odstock Spinal unit where the charity Inspire is based.

The challenge was started a year later in 1986 by Mike Crossman, a friend of George’s, to raise cash for the Salisbury-based Integrated Spinal Rehabilitation Foundation (Inspire) and the Wessex Heartbeat charity which has its headquarters at Southampton General Hospital.

Organiser Jeremy Crossman hailed this year's event as a big success, despite the numbers being slightly down on last year.

Mr Crossman said: "It was a great success we had runners, walkers and riders.

"They went round two courses, one an eight mile circuit which is harder or a tamer three mile route for people who do not fancy the longer ordeal."