Half marathon sees troubled start

Julius Kimtai won the 21st Reading Half Marathon

Traffic problems and bad weather beset Reading's 21st half marathon as 11,000 competitors flooded the streets.

The influx of visitors saw hold-ups on the M4 and reports that people had abandoned their vehicles on the hard shoulder to get to the start on time.

Calls were put out for drivers to return to their vehicles, although police say that when they arrived on the scene they had already been moved.

The race began at 1010 GMT, with many later running in very poor weather.

Forecasters had predicted wintry conditions for Sunday's race but a bright start at the South Reading Leisure Centre refreshed hopes that the majority of runners would be finished by the time they appeared.

But many people ended up still running towards the finish line at the Madejski Stadium in sleet and rain.

The winner was Kenyan athlete Julius Kimtai who completed the 13.5 mile course in one hour, one minute and 38 seconds.

Wheelchair race winner Tushar Patel passed the finishing line in 54 minutes and 36 seconds.

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said that the earlier motorway congestion had been caused by faulty traffic lights on the A33.