FLEET footed Ben Foster proved a clear winner of the new Two Villages 10K road race which took place at Enville Hall over the weekend.

A total of 275 runners took part in the main event while another 100 plus entered the 2K family fun run.

Previously known as the Kinver Rotary 10K, the event - sponsored by Bodykraft from Pensnett Trading Estate - has been organised by the Rotary Club of Kinver in aid of Dudley based charity Action Heart for the last eight years.

Race winner Foster, of Dudley Kingswinford Running Club, made the most of perfect running conditions to clock a winning time of 36 minutes and 53 seconds.

He was chased home by Wolverhampton and Bilston's Dan Maskew who was almost a minute and a half behind in 38mins 16secs - with Gurmal Dehl, of West Bromwich Harriers, who was also the first veteran runner over 40 home in 38mins 32 secs.

Second veteran back home was DK runner Darren Bishop at 39mins 51secs.

Tracey Alderson of Halesowen AC was the first female veteran home in 47mins 15secs.

There was a much closer contest in the women's race where Victoria Wilkinson representing Cheltenham and County retained her title in 42mins 38secs finishing 16secs ahead of second place Helen Tromans from Dudley Kingswinford, while Louise Collins, unattached, came home third in 44mins 26secs.

Joy Brown, Action Heart fundraising executive, said: "It was a tough course this year. It's quite a climb out of Enville and the runners also had to contend with the sheepwalks. But everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

"The 2K run started first and then people stayed behind to watch the main race. We put on some entertainment including a bouncy castle for the children and just hope that everybody will come back to take part again next year."

The event looks likely to have raised around £4,250 for Action Heart's cardiac rehabilitation centre based at Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley.