A RECORD number of runners and walkers went tunnelling at the weekend.

Around 1,700 braved Saturday's showers and cold winds to take part in the colourful Tweed Valley Tunnel Trail Run and Walk near Peebles.

The event has fast become a key fixture on the UK running calendar and this year attracted runners from as far as Australia, the USA and India to experience the unique combination of beautiful autumnal tracks and the subterranean lighting finale in the disused Neidpath railway tunnel.

The event, organised by Hillside Outside, featured three running distances - 20km, 10km and 4km as well as a 3.5km walk.

Lucy Colquhoun and Fraser Dickson ran their way to the top step for women and men respectively in the 20km race while the 10km version was won by Johnny Lawson from Portobello Running Club and Nicola Hood from Dumfries Running Club.

It was the youths that stormed the 4k race with 15-year-old Gregor Collins from Galashiels and 12-year-old Elena Lee claiming the top spots.

Organiser Neil Dalgleish said: "For many, the day was all about the challenge and fun of taking part rather than competing for podiums, and the event shared the friendly, community atmosphere typical of many Tweed Valley outdoor adventure and sports events.

"Following on from a fantastic weekend, we are delighted to announce that the event will return next year.

“Each year the event has grown substantially and we cannot wait to see what happens in 2020.

"At an otherwise quieter time of the year for events in the valley it is great to see such a buzz in the town with visitors and locals alike, so to bring it back for another year is just fantastic.”

Next year's race will take place on Saturday, October 10.

Entries are available at www.tunneltrailrun.com