Tanzania's Fabiano Joseph won the men's race with a time of 28.38

Despite wet weather, organisers of this year's 10k event said it was a great success, with about 6,000 entrants.

World half marathon champion Fabiano Joseph from Tanzania won the men's race while Latvian Jelena Prokopcuka was the fastest female for the second year.

About 40 charities were expected to benefit from the funds raised by the enthusiastic competitors.

Health Minister Andy Kerr and rugby veteran Scott Hastings were among those who took part.

'A challenge'

About 8,000 competitors had registered for the race, 1,000 more than in 2005, but race organiser David Hart from Nova International said the weather had put some people off.

He said: "It's proving very popular with runners because of the Edinburgh backdrop but it's also a challenge. Edinburgh is not exactly flat.

In pictures: Edinburgh Great Run

"I think a few people were put off by the weather. The heavens really opened at the start and it decided to rain extremely hard but it was a bit brighter by the end."

Olympic ice skaters John and Sinead Kerr from Livingstone and Spooks actress Shauna MacDonald were also among the runners.

The entrants set off from The Meadows and took in Princes Street and Arthur's Seat on the way to the finishing line.

The start to this year's race was staggered in two stages to cope with the high numbers of competitors taking part.

The first runners left at 1000 BST while a second group of runners left at 1015 BST

About 1,000 youngsters also took part in the junior and mini Great Edinburgh Run event.