Rain and cold conditions failed to put a dampener on the annual Alton Water Run in Suffolk yesterday (10 May), when 550 runners took part in 2K and 10K runs, with hundreds more going along to cheer runners on.

The event was organised by parent volunteers from Tattingstone, Stutton and Holbrook Primary Schools with the support of Ipswich Jaffa Running Club and sponsorship from locally manufactured plughole care brand Buster, in association with National Plughole Week.

Buster brand manager Louise Perry said: “It was great to see so many people turn up to take part in such a great local event and we were delighted to be a sponsor. Alton Water Run proved a lovely opportunity to announce our Bottle for Change appeal and we donated over 2,000 bottles of water for runners and supporters.”

Laura Fawcett, Chair of the Alton Water Run Committee, said: “We had a record number of entries and the support we received locally from Buster and from our other sponsors was fantastic. It was a fun family occasion, despite the weather during the first part of the morning.”

After drinking the water people are being urged to fill the Bottles for Change with spare 1p, 5p and 20p coins which will go towards helping Oxfam with their life saving work in the developing world.

Further sponsorship of Alton Water Run was provided by Pioneer Pumps, Sweatshop, Royal Hospital School, Survey Solutions and Wild Raspberry. Anglian Water also gave their support.

It is hoped that the final tally from fundraising will amount to more than £5,000 which will be divided between the three schools.

 For more information and how you can get involved in National Plughole Week and Bottle for Change, please visit www.nationalplugholeweek.com