The organiser behind Sidmouth’s Beat the Bus has hailed this year’s race a success, despite initial fears about the number of entrants and a last minute route change to avoid a herd of cattle.

The charity event on June 25 pitted runners against the number 157 bus from Otterton to Sidmouth Triangle – then back again – along a 10km mixed terrain route.

The race looked in doubt during May after only a handful of athletes signed up to take part.

But a late surge in the number of entrants meant that nearly 70 runners took on the challenge, which helped raise £600 for Sidmouth Living With Cancer.

Sixteen-year-old Jason Drew of Sidmouth Running Club was the first over the finish line, recording a time of 36 minutes and one second.

Organiser Bill Valentine said the event had been a great success, despite a ‘stressful few hours’ before the start when he was forced to improvise a last minute route change.

He said: “We had a bit of trouble with one of the landowners because some of his cows had got out of the field the day before and caused some damage.

“He didn’t want us to use the field, so we had to quickly consult the ordinance survey map to come up with a new route, and get out to re-mark it.

“It made it a 10km race instead of nine in the end, but people said they enjoyed the new route more so it all came together quite nicely!”