This year’s Bromham Pudding Run has raised around £4,500 for pupils at St Nicholas Primary School thanks to 438 people who completed the 10k course.

The race, which sees participants awarded with pudding instead of a medal, is popular with clubs such as the Chippenham Harriers and has grown since it started nearly 20 years ago.

This year 500 people paid the entry fee, about 50 more than last year, and within two weeks of releasing the entry form online every place for the event had been taken.

The relatively flat course attracted competitor Nigel Vile, 60, of Hilperton, Trowbridge, as this was his first race since competing in his school’s cross country team as a youngster.

He finished in one hour and 13 minutes and said his daughter Laura Quintrell, 33, also of Hilperton, spent the summer training with him.

He said: “We thought it would be good for our fitness and the puddings didn’t come into it at all.

“It was a bit daunting when we got there because everyone bar a few people there were serious runners. There was no-one in fancy dress.

“But everyone along the way was so supportive, all the marshals and all the people in the village were out watching.

“The last time I ever ran was in 1967 when I was about 14. To suddenly go from doing nothing for 40-odd years to 10k is quite something.”

In the past, money from the race has funded a new fish tank, as well as new play equipment for youngsters at St Nicholas Primary School.

Race secretary Judi McKendrick, who has two children at the school, is a PTA member and helped plan the day with organisers Ali Wright and Suzanne Dyke.

She said: “It’s a nice flat route and I think a lot of runners find it good for scoring a personal best.

“The start was a bit crowded because that’s at the end of Greystones. It’s a lot of work organising it but it’s a lovely feeling seeing them complete it and get to the end safely.

“There’s a small group of seven of us who organise it and probably about 80 volunteers on the day.”