RUNNERS from all over west Wiltshire braved the wind and rain at the weekend to take part in the Bath Half Marathon, raising thousands of pounds for charity.

An eight-strong team lead by Alison Pendle managed to raise over £4,000 on behalf of the Trowbridge-based West Wiltshire Portage service.

A funding crisis has meant that the service, which provides home tuition for pre-school children with a range of disabilities, has been forced to reduce the number of places it can offer children from 35 to 30.

The money raised by completing the 13-mile race means they will be able to reinstate two of those places for the coming year.

Mrs Pendle said: "The weather conditions made it tough going and I think everybody did extremely well."

Also among the 5,000 competitors on Sunday was Graham Dove, 46, from Bradford on Avon, who completed the course in

1 hour 54 minutes, raising about £700 for The Neem Tree Trust.

The trust is a Wiltshire charity that sends funds to a home for disabled boys in Southern India and Mr Dove had the added incentive of a good luck banner stitched by the boys and sent from India in time for the race.

He said: "I think the fact that it was a lesser known children's charity meant people were more generous with their money and knowing all the boys at the home were rooting for me helped."

Hot on Graham's heels was Bradford on Avon teacher Talan Skeels-Piggins, 33, taking part in his first competitive race since a motorbike crash in last March left him paralysed from the chest down.

The St Laurence School PE teacher, competing in a race wheelchair, was raising money for the Talan T4 Trust and

the spinal unit at Salisbury Hospital where he underwent months of rehabilitation after his accident.

He said: "It wasn't bad for my first effort. The hilly course was made worse with the fact that it was pouring with rain and windy as well.

"The first lap took just over an hour and I was not looking forward to the second lap knowing the hills were to come but the rain eased off and the crowd and other runners were incredibly supportive.

"I really needed all the encouragement I could get when trying to inch my way uphill.

"It was a great event the first half marathon I have ever competed in and I was truly amazed at the camaraderie between runners.

"A friendly field, friendly supporters and something which I'll do again in a year's time."

team portage: Alison Pendle, third from right, and her team of runners managed to collect £4,000 for the West Wiltshire Portage Service, which provides home tuition to pre-school children with a range of disabilities.