Great North Run
57,000 people took part in the Great North Run which was won by Mo Farah AFP/Getty

A runner taking part in the Great North Run has died, the event's organisers have confirmed. A spokesman for the event said: "The Great Run Company deeply regrets the loss of life of a participant at the Great North Run today and offer our deepest sympathies and condolences to the family and friends of the individual.

"In the case of a fatality, there are procedures laid down that we adhere to with the professional organisations. Our priority is to ensure the next of kin are informed and we are not in a position to comment further today. We will update the media as soon as we are in a position to do so."

In a statement on Facebook they added: "We deeply regret the loss of life of a participant." No further details have been released about the individual but the Great Run Company said its priority was to ensure next of kin had been informed.

Around 57,000 people took part in the event running over 13.1 miles from Newcastle to South Shields. Into its 35<sup>th year, the event is Britain's biggest race in Newcastle.

Mo Farah won the race for a second year in a row, completing the half marathon in just under an hour. The 31-year-old becomes the first British winner of the Great North Run since 1985. Kenya's Mary Keitany won the women's elite race in 1 hour 7 minutes and 32 seconds. David Weir took the men's wheelchair crown, while Shelly Woods won the women's wheelchair race.

More about Great North Run