Rugby star starts Nos Galan race

Rugby's Kevin Morgan started the runners in the Nos Galan race

Wales and Dragons full-back Kevin Morgan was the mystery runner who started the annual Nos Galan road race in the Cynon Valley.

Over 650 people took part in the annual New Year's Eve race, including one competitor from Australia.

Every New Year, Mountain Ash holds a race to commemorate Guto Nyth Bran, the legendary Welsh athlete.

Morgan ran holding a lighted torch from the athlete's Llanwonno grave to Mountain Ash square to start the race.

According to the legend, Llwyncelyn runner Guto Nyth Bran, born in 1700, could catch a bird in flight and once ran to Pontypridd and back - about seven miles (11km) - before a kettle boiled.

The identity of the mystery celebrity runner is always kept secret until the last minute.

Around 250 children took part in the race

Previous mystery runners have included hurdler Rhys Williams and cyclist Nicole Cooke.

Morgan, from Pontypridd, gained three caps at the Rugby World Cup for Wales last autumn.

Rob Bugden from Bristol and Andrea Whitcombe from Swansea were the elite race winners.

The Nos Galan race was launched in 1958 by local man Bernard Baldwin, a former Welsh AAA junior men's mile champion.