GWENT Wildlife Trust has confirmed that last weekend’s annual Race for Wildlife was the biggest in the race’s history, raising over £5,000 as it continues to go ‘from strength to strength’.

Alongside the 10k, Sunday’s event also included a 1k fun run for competitors with total entries being 334.

The number of participants is up by 50 per cent on last year’s 10k and over 100 per cent higher than 2014 with some people coming far as the Midlands in England to compete.

GWT Race for Wildlife event organiser Julian Vallance, said: “By making this our biggest year we hope the race becomes a permanent fixture in the race calendar of South Wales.

“Money raised on the day will go towards our ongoing charity work for people and wildlife in Gwent. We look forward to building on our success again next year, and thank everyone who helped make another great event.”

Between the races, the 1k saw 43 people run whilst 291 signed on for the road-based 10k. The total amount raised stands at £5,200, 60 per cent more than 2015.

Aberdare’s Matthew Evans won Sunday’s event with a time of 35 minutes 48 seconds whilst Victoria Baker from the Forest of Dean Athletics Club was the fastest woman in 40 minutes 58 seconds.

Company CEO Ian Rappel, said, “The race is about bringing people together from near and far. The Gwent Levels is a stunning landscape and our aim is for everyone to enjoy this fantastic area which offers a reminder why the Gwent Levels is so valuable for both people and wildlife.”

Local groups including Chepstow Harries and Undy Athletics Football Club supported the event, with The South Wales Argus as the official media partner.

The race route began at Undy Athletics before going along the Forest of Dean.

Mr Vallance added: “The amount of money raised through entries and items sold was a big increase from last year as the event goes from strength to strength.

“It will go towards our ongoing conservation work across Gwent and go towards projects such as the Water vole reintroduction project at nearby Magor Marsh as well as our growing volunteer programme.”