MORE than 1,000 people took part in a unique race which sees competitors run past zoo animal enclosures.

Runners took part in the popular Colchester Zoo Stampede 10k which supports the charity Action for the Wild.

Everyone who took part was given free entry into the zoo after the race, a new themed medal, free official race photos, live chip timed results and post-race goodies.

Visitors were also able to support runners at a limited number of points in the zoo.

Read more >>> Here's why you might have seen a knife arch in Castle Park yesterday

The 1,697 participants started in the heart of the zoo for 1k, running between the rhinos, elephants, giraffes and zebras enclosures.

They then headed out onto closed roads before returning back inside the zoo with a killer uphill finish.

Crispian Bloomfield, of Billericay Striders, was the first past the finish line in an impressive 32 minutes and 37 seconds.

Close behind was Joseph Turner who completed the challenge just 34 seconds later.

Matts Latham ran with Aldershot, Farnham and District Athletic Club and got third place, finishing in 34 minutes and 28 seconds.

There was a strict 90 minute cut off for the event due to the closures in place on roads surrounding Heckfordbridge.