PAUL Whittaker was a class apart as he ensured a home town athlete won on the 30th anniversary of the Southend 10km.

The Southend AC runner, 26, finished in 30m 58s, a full minute clear of second-placed Adrian Mussett.

Whittaker was so far clear of the rest of the field that he was the only runner to follow the correct route over the re-designed seafront course.

He followed the lead car and bike around the course only to find out at the finish, everyone else had run about 200m further because they had taken a wrong turning in Gunners Park at the far end of the course.

Runners were quick to complain at the end of the race and Southend AC have promised a review.

Whittaker said: “I am pleased, it was good. I really went for it the first 5k. I think I ran 14m 55s for the first half and suffered a little bit on the way back in the wind, but it was good.

“People were saying afterwards they had run 6.41 miles (a 10k is 6.2 miles). I had the lead car to follow so I was alright.”

A spokeswoman for Southend AC said: “We acknoweldge there was a bit of a situation and obviously we are sorry people found themselves running a bit further.

“We had more marshalls than ever on this year’s course. We are not sure what happened on that point of the course yet but will be having a full debrief in the coming days.

“One thing is for sure, it won’t happen again next year.”

Third place overall was Langdon Hills resident Owen Cima (34m 28s).

Billericay Striders’ Emma Prideaux was the first female home in 38m 39s.

Thurrock Harriers’ teenager Gemma Holloway was second (38m 57s) and Southend AC’s Claire Cornwell third (39m 40s).