A HUGE downpour failed to affect spirits at the second Warrington based New Balance English Half Marathon.

More than 2,500 lined up for the race which left Victoria Park on Sunday morning.

The event has helped raise money for a variety of charities including the Warrington Wolves Foundation, which had more than 50 people running. Other charities benefitting today include the Relationships Centre, Opening Doors, Warrington Grassroots, St Rocco’s Hospice and The Peace Centre (part of the Tim Parry Jonathan Ball Foundation) among others.

Race Director from Big-Q Events, Mike James said, “We would like to say a huge thanks to our main event partners, New Balance and Warrington Borough Council, without their support this event would not have been possible. "We are delighted with the success of the event, with a 25 per cent increase in entries this year. "The aim is to grow the New Balance English Half Marathon to 10,000 runners by 2012, the response we have had from runners and all our partners today would indicate there should be nothing standing in our way.”