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Wiltshire in Pictures: Half marathon and murals

Ben MarvellWiltshire
News imageBBC Groups gathering after the half marathon in Swindon. A person is stood at a table handing out medals.BBC

It has been a week of sunny skies and cold evenings across the county, with jumpers and blankets being removed from storage for the first time since spring.

Taking advantage of the weather, the lions at Longleat have been posing for pictures and pears have been ripening at Stourhead. Meanwhile Swindon saw runners taking on its half marathon on Sunday.

News imageFour runners stood huddled together smiling into the camera. They are wearing matching green t-shirts with their runner numbers on.
News imageThree runners at the finish line of a half marathon event. Spectators gather on the left hand side behind a barrier. The front runner is touching his watch to check his time. There are flags and banners either side of the finish line.
News imageThe runners running beside a duck pond. Spectators stand on the left hand side cheering.

A welcomed return: Runners took part in the Swindon Half Marathon on Sunday, the first to be held in the town since 2019. Those taking part in the 13.1 mile (21km) race began at Coate Water Country Park, running through the town's eastern suburbs and then south beyond the M4 motorway via Wanborough, Badbury and Medbourne. Well done to all of those that took part!

News imageLongleat/Georgia Ellis A lion looks through a window in a mocked up top trumps card with the words "African Lion" and "Roar Score 100" clearly visible.Longleat/Georgia Ellis

Picture purr-fect: The lions at the Longleat Estate near Warminster have been playing along as the park prepares to host a Top Trumps trail next month. The trail is due to open for the October half-term with six giant cards to be found and a limited-edition top trump card to be won.

News imageRoyal Wooton Bassett Environment Trust Two men stand smiling either side of a giant cheque for £50,000. They are standing in a wooden building with a television screen behind them. The top of the cheque says "Sustain".Royal Wooton Bassett Environment Trust

Cash for cycles: The Royal Wootton Bassett Environment Trust are celebrating having received a grant from Sustain Wiltshire at last week's Sustain Britain Conference. The £50,000 grant will go towards improving cycle routes, restoring ponds and improving wildlife habitats in the town.

News imageA woman with dyed-blonde hair stands leans on the guardrail of an industrial lift that she had been using to spray paint a mural, which can partially seen behind her head.

Paint Party: Wiltshire artist Sophie Mess has painted a colourful mural in Chippenham, completing it in just five days. The mural, which depicts "a medley of iris flowers" and an egret, can be seen on the wall of the Rivo Lounge.

News imageA pear tree growing flat against a wall in a court yard on the Stourhead Estate. The pears look ripe for picking. In front of the pear tree is a large plant pot and pink flowers can be seen in the foreground.
News imageA sunny day at Stourhead lake in Wiltshire. A large tree can be seen on an island in the middle of the lake, which has trees starting to show autumn colours around its banks.

Pear-fectly formed: With the autumn colours yet to fully emerge across the county, residents and visitors have to had to make do with this month's bumper autumn fruit crop. At Stourhead, apples and pears are available in return for donations, with many more ripe for picking.

News imageWeatherWatchers/Jo C A close up of a leaf that is starting to turn red for Autumn. The veins of the leaf are clearly visible. Other leaves can be seen blurred behind it.WeatherWatchers/Jo C

Colour rush: Despite the county still looking green, there are a few early signs of the autumn colour to come. Many thanks to Weather Watcher Jo C for this lovely image from Market Lavington.

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