THEY lined up in their droves, all fit, healthy and eager to pay tribute to an athlete who was killed in a jet ski accident in Blackpool.

Hundreds of runners took part in a 10-kilometre race through part of the borough to mark the first anniversary of Ian Hales' death.

They wore white T-shirts bearing his name and helped to raise money for three charities.

Runners came to Bolton from across the North of England -- and the rain just held off long enough for the majority of them to complete the race without being drenched.

Father-of-five Ian died when a high-powered jet ski he was driving crashed into one of the supports of Blackpool's North Pier on April 18 last year.

His wife, Debbie, a passenger, was seriously hurt. She suffered facial and internal injuries and was in intensive care for several days.

In his honour, Bolton's 10 kilometre race -- held on the same day as the London Marathon -- has been renamed the Smith Knight Fay Audi Bolton 10k. Mr Hales' son Jason (27), who wasborn in Whitefield, works for the car dealership in Stockport.

The annual race was the last event Mr Hales took part in before the tragic accident and was held in Leverhulme Park, the home of Bolton Harriers, with whom Mr Hales, of Stockdale Grove, Breightmet, had been involved for almost 20 years.

The race started on the running track before taking to the streets. Around 500 people were believed to have taken part including Ian's sons Jason, Martin and Michael, sister Joanne and Jason's partner, Claire.

Money raised will be split between the Hales Trust Fund, set up to held underprivileged atheletes in Bolton, Blackpool's Victoria Hospital and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Some of the cash will also be put towards a fitness trail at the Leverhulme park track.

Jason, who now lives in Sale, was coached by his father to become an England international fell runner.

He said: "My father was instrumental in encouraging many exciting athletics talents and loved to attract kids into the sport. But the important goal is to create a viable charitable trust that will continue for years to come and help athletics in the north west.

"Hopefully our family's tragedy will serve as an inspiration for others to take up the sporting challenge laid down by our dad, He would have been very proud to know a new generation of young athletes was running because of him."