A "PHENOMENAL" last-minute scramble to put on the Blackbird Leys Mile paid off this weekend as a crowd in high spirits converged on the park.

More than 150 people sprinted, jogged and walked around the estate with tiny tots and pet dogs in tow after 11th-hour efforts by local heroes.

Peter Wright, 19, a personal trainer for Pure Gym, sped ahead of the competition and hurtled over the finish line in Blackbird Leys Park to cheers.

He said: "It feels great. I came second two years ago and have been training quite a lot so I thought this would be my year.

"It's a great event. It brings all the locals out together for a great experience, especially the under fives sprint."

Last month plans by the Independent Working Class Association to hold the event came tumbling down after Oxford City Council failed to grant permission to use the field.

But Thistle Drive resident Paul Brackett and the Leys Community Development Initiative rallied round with about 10 days to go and re-organised the event from scratch.

Paul Brackett, 56, whose clan originally organised the event in the 1980s, said the whole day had been "absolutely fantastic".
He added: "I feel great, really proud of Blackbird Leys folk and of my family, my wife and sister, and everyone else who helped. I did not do this on my own."

For the full story and photographs see Monday's Oxford Mail.