MINI and not so mini monsters helped raise money for the charity Save the Children by taking part in a family-friendly run and bike team event on Sunday. More than 250 people took part in train operator First Capital Connect s (FCC) Mini Monster duathlon

MINI and not so mini monsters helped raise money for the charity Save the Children by taking part in a family-friendly run and bike team event on Sunday.

More than 250 people took part in train operator First Capital Connect's (FCC) Mini Monster duathlon in Verulamium Park.

Competitors, who included celebrities and FCC management, were in teams of four and each team chose between two events -- a 3km run or 10km cycle ride, or a 1.5km run or a 5km cycle.

Winners of the first event were Intelligent Positioning with a time of 1 hour 22 minutes.

They now have the option of competing in the First Monster Challenge; a 120km team duathlon in Inverness on September 13.

Blue Peter and Strictly Come Dancing star Gethin Jones joined a local team which won a competition to have him captain their side.

Gethin said: "I thoroughly enjoyed the event and was pleased to see so many people getting active and in the process raising money for charity."

Elaine Holt, managing director of FCC, described it as "a fantastic day" and said it was particularly pleasing to see so many families and FCC staff and customers participating.

She added: "Although we have yet to calculate a grand total, lots of money has been raised for Save the Children," One quarter of each £5 entry fee went to Save the Children and three quarters covered FCC's costs for running the event.