A friend in need is a friend indeed as two women gave a helping hand to take part in a 10K run for charity.

When Barb Richardson asked pals Tina Stanley and Debra Melbourne to take part in the BUPA 10K with eight weeks to go, some may have said no.

But not these running novices as they put in the hard yards and raised £1,816 for three separate charities.

Ms Richardson raised £542.50 for mental health charity MIND, Ms Melbourne raised £928.75 for the Cure Parkinson’s Trust and Tina Stanley raised £345 for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Ms Stanley said: “On the day, we were filled with mixed emotions, ranging from butterflies in the stomach to excitement, fuelling ourselves on the adrenaline and hype that entering such a race brings.

“We ran around some of London's famous landmarks, starting at The Mall, through Admiralty Arch, Trafalgar Square, past The Old Bailey, The Bank of England, The Gherkin, St Paul's Cathedral, past Downing Street and Big Ben and Westminster abbey to name a few, then along Birdcage Walk to the finish line. It was such an exhilarating experience, will we do it again, probably.”