750 gorillas run through London

The sixth annual 7km Great Gorilla Run started and finished at the London Underwriting Centre, off Mincing Lane, this morning.

About 750 runners joined in the monkey business - setting a world record for the largest ever gathering of people wearing gorilla costumes.

The event was staged by The Gorilla Organisation, a charity which protects the endangered species in central African rainforests.

Jillian Miller, The Gorilla Organisation director, said: “The event has got better every year and the atmosphere among the runners and spectators is incredible. We hope to raise £200,000.”

Conservationist and TV star Bill Oddie fired the starting pistol to set off the runners and handed medals to everyone who finished.

He said: “It is great that people are prepared to put so much effort into something so worthy, while maintaining such good humour.”

Race winner James Burton, 25, an account manager from Balham, south London, said: “I run regularly but it was much harder wearing the hot and heavy gorilla costume.” - thesun