MORE than 500 runners lined up  for a  fundraising race to mark  what would have been the 21st   birthday of murdered toddler  James  Bulger.

The 5km run in the grounds of   Knowsley Hall yesterday was   organised to raise funds for the  James  Bulger Memorial Trust.

It was established in the tot’s   memory by his mother Denise  Fergus, who said the “fantastic”  support  shown for the event  would spur her on  to continue  her charity work.

The 42-year-old and  husband Stuart  joined  runners in an emotional round  of  applause for James,  who would have  celebrated the milestone  birthday last  Wednesday.

Organisers had to  delay the start of  the  race after a last-minute  surge of  people wanting  to run.

Around 50 youngsters  took  part in  a short toddler trot held  after the main  event.

Mrs Fergus, of Kirkby, said:  “We did not expect so many   people to take part but they came  in  their hundreds.

“It was absolutely fantastic to  see so  many people and they all  gave up  their Sundays to be here.

“It was overwhelming to see  how much  people care about  James. I do not think  I could  carry on the charity if I did not   have this support.

“It was a hard week. We cannot   celebrate James’s birthday with  him  but this was a fantastic way  to mark it. We want to do this every year   around his birthday so this was  just the  first of many.

“James will be looking down   applauding all the people  here.”