MORE than 900 runners braved scorching temperatures to complete the 24th Wycombe Half Marathon.

Some 906 runners completed the 13.1 mile event in temperatures which hit 84 degrees fahrenheit which was hotter than Spain, Los Angeles and Ibiza.

Alfred Benjamin, 50, who has run every single Wycombe Half marathon since it began 1981, said: "The weather was a real killer. I really had to use my brain and experience to get around the course."

Fellow 100 per center Alan Wheeler also got round the course to maintain his proud record of being the only other person to have completed in every Wycombe Half Marathon since it started.

Wheeler said: "I should be used to this race by now, but that was as tough as ever."

Runners on the course were hosed down by householders en-route.

Finisher James Young said: "One major factor which allowed me to get to the finish was the support from other runners and people who were lining the course lending their encouragement.

"Special thanks must go to the people who dowsed us with water from garden hoses along the way a little piece of heaven in a day of hell."

Even the second placed athlete Paul Gregory admitted he was running on empty when he crossed the finish line.

He said: "In the end I was just glad to finish. My legs went, everything went. The heat really took its toll."

Gregory, who won it in 2003, just held off Italian professional runner Massimiliano Monteforte to finish second and claim the title of being the Bucks County AA Half Marathon champion.

But he could do nothing to overhaul the overall race winner Alaster Stewart, who runs for Belgrave Harriers and the Redhill Runners. Stewart was ineligible for the Bucks title as he no longer lives in the area or runs for a local running club.

The men's team prize went to Chiltern Harriers with Vale of Aylesbury finishing as runners-up.

Maidenhead Athletic Club won the Ladies team prize with Chiltern Harriers having to settle for the runners-up spot.

But everyone who finished was a winner.

Mick Curry pushed his son Phil, who suffers from epilepsy and cerebral palsy, all the way round the course in a wheelchair and blind runner Janice Newman finished the race with her guide Wendy Earl.

St John Ambulance had 25 representatives working on the day and despite treating people for heat reported no serious problems.

See Friday's Bucks Free Press for all the runners' times, positions and pictures in our special half marathon pull-out supplement