More than 50,000 people took part in Sunday's Great North Run

Kieran Patching from Walderslade, Kent, was one of four men who died during the half-marathon on Tyneside on Sunday.

The 34-year-old lived with his wife and two children and ran a building company near their home.

Neighbours said the family were about to move house and they remembered him as a "normal fit guy".

Jim Grant, who lives next door to the Patching family, said: "I heard this morning and I can't believe it, honestly.

'Big shock'

"I'm gutted and I'm only a friend, so God knows what his family must feel like, it's so sad."

Another neighbour, Daniel Coomber, said he would sometimes see Mr Patching playing football with his son.

I'm gutted and I'm only a friend, so God knows what his family must feel like, it's so sad Jim Grant, neighbour

He said: "Whenever I was out and saw his son playing football I would have a little kick around with him.

"It's a big shock, to be honest, he seemed like a normal, fit guy.

"If he was running the Great North Run, he had good intentions and I don't know why or how this has happened."

More than 50,000 runners took part in the 25th half-marathon event in warm temperatures on Sunday.

A statement from Bupa Great North Run said the deaths were "deeply unfortunate".

Organisers said there were 16 ambulances on stand-by at the event, medical facilities at every half-mile along the route as well as ambulances, two paramedic bikes and two field hospitals at the finish line.