AROUND 7,000 amateur and professional athletes took part in the Liverpool’s annual 10K run, in aid of Marie Curie cancer research yesterday.

The route started and finished near Sefton Park’s Victorian Palm House, and took runners through Princes Park.

Andy Norman, from Altrincham and District running club won the male race in 31 minutes and 10 seconds, with Liverpool Harriers member John McCole coming in one minute and 10 seconds later.

Dan Golding from Ambleside, in the Lake District, came in third place and Mark Keeley, also of Liverpool Harriers, earned fourth place.

Emma Phillips from Birmingham triumphed in the woman’s race, crossing the line after 35 minutes and 27 seconds. Wirral Athletic Club member Helen Lawrence finished second with a time of 35 minutes 51 seconds, followed by Liz Such of the Hallamshire Harriers in Sheffield and Liverpool Harriers member Celia Whelan.

Alan Rothwell, of race organisers Run Liverpool, said: “Last year the race raised money for the NSPCC, and this year our featured good cause is Marie Curie Cancer Care.”

The course led competitors around the perimeter of Sefton Park and then along Greenbank Road and Croxteth Drive to Devonshire Road.

A route through Princes Park brought runners back to Aigburth Drive and from there to the race finish at the Old Cow Field.

The event was sponsored by sportswear company ASICS UK.

The race took place in the city centre until 2005.

Mr Rothwell said that he hoped to start talks with city leaders about the 2008 event being returned back to the city centre.

He said: “I’m convinced I could create a course interesting to the runners, particularly those visiting during Capital of Culture year.”