The number of entries was capped several years ago

Race director Nigel Gough said the 25th anniversary of the famous half-marathon would be remembered by the relatives of the dead for all the wrong reasons.

The families of the men told the inquest at Gateshead Civic Centre that they were unhappy about the way they heard how their relatives had died.

The four men were from County Durham, Leeds, York and Kent.

Mr Gough, who works for race organisers Nova International, said that the day in September last year was meant to be one of celebration.

He told the victim's families: "I can only apologise that you are here.

Phil Lewis was one of the four men who collapsed

"It was meant to be a great day for everyone who is involved and it is going to be a day that you are going to remember for the wrong reasons.

"Everyone within our organisation was devastated when the news came through."

The four who died were deputy head teacher Phil Lewis, 52, from Chester-le-Street, County Durham; 43-year-old civil engineer David Mahaffey, from York; company director Reuben Wilson, 28, from Leeds, and businessman Kieran Patching, 34, from Walderslade, near Chatham in Kent.

Their families criticised Nova International for the way they were told their loved ones had died.

The wives of Mr Mahaffey and Mr Lewis were spectators but were only told their husbands had died when they came forward after not hearing from them.

Mr Wilson collapsed a couple of miles from the finishing line

The family of Reuben Wilson found out the news from his sister who was running with him.

Julie Patching, wife of Kieran Patching, said she could not understand why she was told of his death by a friend running the race and not Nova International or the police.

Great North Run course director Max Colby said Nova International's policy was to inform loved ones directly if they came forward at the race.

If they did not, then it was the responsibility of the police to break the news to the next of kin.

He was asked why a message was not put out over the race loudspeaker to ask relatives to come forward and said the intention had been not to cause unnecessary anxiety but this policy would now be reviewed.