PAULA Radcliffe's recent distressing experience in the Olympic marathon no doubt jogged a few local memories.

In August, 1981, there were 8,700 entries for the first Bolton Marathon and there was estimated to be a million spectators along the 26 mile, 385 yard route.

According to our report at the time "the blistering heat turned it into the supreme test of human endurance".

Many runners did not make the finishing line and scores collapsed with heat exhaustion and ended up in hospital or first aid posts.

At the time it was described as the biggest race ever staged in Europe.

BBC sports commentator David Coleman started the race on Beaumont Road and top athletes like Stan Curran from Salford - the eventual winner - rubbed shoulders with show biz stars like Jimmy Savile and Bolton "Crackerjack" comedian Stu Francis.

The Bolton Marathon - introduced by Bolton United Harriers secretary Vince Regan - started the same year as the one in London and had more entries.

It became a successful annual event, but in April, 1988, the marathon due to be held on August 28 that year was scrapped after it failed to attract enough financial backing.

Mr Regan told the Bolton Evening News the following year that after the success of the London and Bolton races other cities joined in and there were eventually something like 100 similar events.

"The cake was divided up much more and people from the Midlands did not need to drive all the way to Bolton when there were already races in Birmingham and Nottingham," he said.

"And unless you have got big numbers or the television coverage it is very difficult to be able to attract the sponsors needed to maintain the standards," he added.

Here are some images from the big athletics event which helped put Bolton on the sporting map.

Pictures

Top left - Marathon men: Arms raised and still looking fresh - these runners were heading along the A6 with Rivington Pike in the background.

Top right - Done it: Ken Robinson, aged 33, of Farnworth, was pictured relaxing after treatment in the first aid tent.

Bottom left - Encouraging crowd: These spectators were on the A6 at Westhoughton.

Bottom right - Cool customer: This athlete was about to get a welcome soaking.