'ABSOLUTELY brilliant' — that was the verdict following Sunday's charity extravaganza in Okehampton for Sport Relief.

Organiser David Hocking said he was delighted at the crowds who turned out to Simmons Park, the setting for the one, three and six mile sponsored runs — and at the clubs and organisations who contributed so much to the day.

David said: 'We had loads of people and we were extremely lucky with the weather, considering it was absolutely lashing down on Saturday.

'The atmosphere was just tremendous. In total we had 612 runners, which was on a par with 2008, and we raised £1,600 just in donations and entries on the day.'

David said the fancy dress events were 'great fun' and the sports clubs and organisations who took part in the day, promoting their activities, had 'very positive feedback' throughout.

He thanked Fulfords of Okehampton for their generous sponsorship of the fancy dress event and prize winner's cup.

'I also have to thank Emma Jefferies who did such a tremendous job with the warm ups for the runs, and Richard Appleby was superb with the music and the PA,' said David.

'I think what came across strongly were that there were so many children there having great fun, really sprinting for the line at the finish, it was brilliant.'

BBC Radio Devon's Matt Woodley started the races and did several live radio interviews during the day.

Okehampton ladies' and mens' hockey teams staged a fancy dress hockey match, which raised £130 — they also won the fancy dress first prize of £25, which they immediately donated back to Sport Relief.

And the judges of the fancy dress competition, Lisa Warren and Michelle Cole, travelled a little further afield, shaking their collecting bucket at Kilworthy Point to Point, collecting around £125 from the racing fraternity.

David said: 'All in all the day was extremely successful. It takes quite some time organising something like this and you want it to go as well as possible, but it went even better.

'The atmosphere was just fantastic and I must thank all the runners who turned out — they really made the day.'