Dozens of Stansted Airport staff donned their running shoes to take part in a unique charity event along the airport’s runway in the early hours of Sunday, June 5.

At around 3am, 100 staff from the Essex hub made their way round the 5km course on the airstrip in aid of the airport’s charity partner, CLIC Sargent.

Staff at Stansted are hopeful of raising £10,000 through the event to help support children and young people with cancer.

The early start of the event was necessary to take advantage of the only time of the day or night when no aircraft were scheduled to take off or land at the airport.

Viv Bambrough, Stansted’s terminal co-ordinator and chair of the airport’s charity committee, said: “It was such a fantastic night and I’m sure it was a brilliant experience for everyone who took park.

“A special thank you must go to the team of volunteers from the airport and CLIC Sargent who did a fantastic job marshalling the runners and acting as timekeepers.

Karen Roberts, area fundraising manager at CLIC Sargent, said: “We are hugely grateful to everyone who took part in this unique event, while raising money to support children and young people with cancer, and their families.

“There may be some aching muscles at the finish line, but every competitor will have done their part to help CLIC Sargent change what it means to be diagnosed with cancer when you’re young.”