One runner is taking partfor the first time after being inspired by his grandad who ran the event 27 times in a row.

Dan Turnbull, from South Shields, is following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Mel Turnbull, 82, who competed in the first event in 1981.

The 25-year-old said: "It was my turn, my grandad and my dad have run it before, I surf and I did run in school but not distance, I started to train and I really didn't want to like running but I love it."

His participation has also started a friendly, family rivalry and said if he beat his grandad's best time of 90 minutes he would be "over the moon".

Mel said: "It's a great event, I'm proud I did 27 in a row, I've kept all my medals even the first one and I did it up till 2014 and that was my last one then - I was pushing 70.

"I hope Dan can beat my time, he's got longer legs than me but if he does, I'll get my trainers on and see if I can beat him next year."

Eve Connor
North East & Cumbria

At the Tyne Bridge, Devon Woodward, 20, from Billingham, is eagerly waiting for her boyfriend to race past.

Glenn, also 20, is raising money for Prostate Cancer UK and over the past few months he has raised £500 for the charity.

Devon said: “The atmosphere is absolutely buzzing. It’s so nice to see the community come together as one for so many good causes.”

United States runner Zouhair Talbi wins the men's race.

Pamela Tickell
BBC News, North East and Cumbria

Some people have been training for this moment all year, but Daragh Burke only decided to take on the challenge two weeks ago.

His best friend PC Matthew Blades was one of two Cleveland Police officers who died when their patrol vehicle was hit by a car going the wrong way on the A66 near Middlesbrough last month.

Daragh is donning his racing number and will carry on Matthew's attempt to raise funds for Parkinson's UK on his behalf.

The 37-year-old said his friend would be "laughing his head off that I'm doing it" as his starting place was just behind the elite runners.

"I just wanted to make sure that his vest makes it over the finish line," Daragh said.

Great North Run said his running number had been officially reallocated and reminded other runners not to place swap as each run number was linked to "important personal information that race organisers may need to access quickly".

Image source, Supplied

Image source, Supplied

Kenya's Brigid Kosgei wins the Great North Run women's race in a time of just over 66 minutes.

Eve Connor
North East & Cumbria

With the elite athletes on to the next stage of the run, the thousands of others runners are now crossing the Tyne Bridge.

Words of support and encouragement fill the air.

Lucy Foster, 39, from Blaydon, is here with her two children, supporting her husband Andrew who is running for the Newcastle United Foundation.

He decided to run this year's GNR as a challenge before his 40th birthday next weekend.

Lucy says they are all excited and looking forward to seeing him.

Jim Scott
BBC North East & Cumbria

There was a roar, everybody looked up and there they were. The Red Arrows have just done a fly past over the finish line in South Shields.

The finish line is already packed with hundreds of people who have been here since early morning.

Thousands of people line the streets of the North East each year to see the runners make their way past.

Kelly Scott
BBC Radio Newcastle

People take part for all kind of different reasons - here is a snapshot of some of them before they set off.

Pamela Tickell
BBC News, North East and Cumbria

Another runner on his way is ex-Sunderland boss Peter Reid, who is taking part for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

Reid was inspired to fundraise following his daughter's cervical cancer diagnosis, and the death of North East hero and former England captain Kevin Keegan.

“The atmosphere’s fantastic," he said at the start line.

Reid added the charity did wonderful work including raising funds to build a £30m cancer-fighting institute.

“I’m just humbled that I’ve been allowed to do this - at 70 years of age, brilliant."

Image source, NNP

Briton David Weir has won the men's elite wheelchair race in just over 43 minutes

Eve Connor
North East & Cumbria

The atmosphere here at the Tyne Bridge is buzzing as the first of many footsteps begin to pound over it.

Friends, families and loved ones have turned out in force to encourage this year's runners.

There are hundreds of signs and posters lining the bridge, with positive messages to encourage runners to push on.

Robin Davies
North East & Cumbria

Newcastle United star Dan Burn is this year's race starter and says he can "feel the energy and excitement".

His dad is doing it for the "eighth or ninth time".

He hasn't done it himself, but having seen the atmosphere he says he will.

"I will do it at some point, I am sure," he says.

"It's not something that has been on my bucket list to be honest, but now that I have come here and seen what it's about, I would love to do it."

Image source, North News and Pictures

Pamela Tickell
BBC News, North East and Cumbria

Among those running is Shildon dad David Beadle, who is returning to the half marathon after losing his "running spirit" when his teenage children took their own lives separately, within the space of a year.

He is among a team of 40 raising funds for Quinn's Retreat, which offers a free break in static caravans for people who have been similarly bereaved.

"If people see our runners I'd ask them to give us a big cheer just like they give to all the runners out there," David said.

He asked Quinn's Retreat runners to "go out, enjoy yourselves along the way and soak up the atmosphere along the route as it's the supporters that make the day as great as it is".

The charity offered any runners for suicide prevention charity Papyrus to join them in their tent for refreshments at the end after the organisation went into administration earlier this week.

Image source, Supplied

Here we go - Newcastle United player Dan Burn has fired the start gun and the elite men and main field are off.

What a sight it is as tens of thousands of runner start pouring down Newcastle's Central Motorway.

Eve Connor
North East & Cumbria

The first of the elite wheelchair and female athletes have crossed the Tyne Bridge.

Hundreds cheer them on from the sidelines, signs raised and words of encouragement can be heard being shouted from both sides of the bridge.

These are the first of thousands who will cross this iconic landmark today.

Kelly Scott
BBC Radio Newcastle

Remember that picture we posted first thing this morning - things are looking very different now as thousands of runners have arrived.

Here is the view from the bridge which runs between Claremont Road and the Town Moor - absolutely packed with runners.

You can watch live coverage of the run on BBC One and on the BBC iPlayer or by clicking on the link at the top of the page.

BBC Newcastle presenter Kelly Scott is also broadcasting from the start line and you can listen here on BBC Sounds.

Andy Burnham has done the Great North Run before he became prime minister and says it is "the warmth, the atmosphere" he enjoys about it.

He adds: "It's something about the city, the people, the warmth, the humour, it's just a lovely event."

He praises run founder Brendan Foster for the "amazing event".

"The North East doesn't always get the attention it deserves, but this event is the best of British - the Red Arrows, everything," he says.

"And it's good for the North East to get the spotlight and it's good for the whole country to have its eyes on this wonderful part of the world today."

Pamela Tickell
BBC News, North East and Cumbria

There are even more road closures than planned as a water main has flooded the roundabout near the A189 Redheugh Bridge.

Parts of the A184 in Gateshead are blocked with diversions in place.

Northumbrian Water says there is a "considerable amount" of flooding on the road. The running route is unaffected.

Image source, Supplied

Image source, Supplied

More young people are taking part in the Great North Run than ever before, according to the event's organisers.

Data from the Great Run Company shows the proportion of runners aged 25 and under has significantly increased over the past five years, with more than 15% of entrants now falling into that age group up from 8.7% in 2021.

Run founder Brendan Foster said: "It was becoming a little bit of an older demographic and suddenly in the course of the last five years the amount of youngsters running, under 25, has gone to about 15% from about 7 or 8%, so that's doubled.

"And if you look around you can kind of see why - there are lots of running clubs happening now, it's a cool thing to do, it's where they meet friends, it's where they socialise."

The average age is 39.6 with the youngest runner 17 and the oldest 89.