More than 2,000 walkers, runners, some with dogs, and mountain bikers thundered over the beautiful All Cannings Downs and Salisbury Plain between Avebury and Stonehenge on Sunday as they took part in the Sarsen Trail and Neolithic Marathon.

The event is Wiltshire Wildlfe Trust’s main annual fundraiser.

Five women from Corsham, Tash Wilkinson, Tracey Sluggett, Wendy Scotford, Krysia Chrzanowski and Andrea Unwin, walked the 26-mile trail wearing crowns to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee and to mark the 50th anniversary of the wildlife trust.

Not to be outdone Chris Knight from Chippenham ran the full Neolithic marathon dressed as a Mad Hatter in his top hat.

“The finish at Stonehenge is amazing and I love the kind of people who come to run the race,” he said.

Event organiser Derek Gard said: “There was a tremendous buzz. The atmosphere at Stonehenge was electric, I’ve never know anything like it.

“For a multi-disciplined event it was great to see participants encouraging each other and sharing their success.”

The sponsored walk, run and bike ride, now in its 23rd year, is Wiltshire Wildlife Trust’s biggest fundraiser and all money raised is used to help protect Wiltshire’s wildlife and natural environment.

Participants entered from as far afield as Australia.

Chris Nawrocki, from Wodonga, ran the full 26 miles in 3hrs 48mins.

He said: “There’s nothing like it in Australia. Where else can you run from Avebury to Stonehenge?

“You can see so much of the countryside.”