With the Great North Run taking place this weekend, we delved into our archive to look at our pictures of local participants in the 1990s.

From colleagues and friends to charity fundraisers, lots of residents from our region were preparing to take on the half marathon - and told The Northern Echo about their efforts.

Most were fundraising for causes close to their hearts, including these boys who raised cash for Newcastle General Hospital after Stephen Smith was treated for a brain tumour in 1998.

Read more: Can you remember these Darlington and County Durham school sports teams?

(Image: Newsquest) Stephen Smith with the money he raised for Newcastle General Hospital. Pictured with friend John Woods who also took part in the 1998 race.

Denise Benson, human resource manager at Samsung Teesside is pictured with members of Samsung Sports and Social Club who were running in the 1997 Great North Run on behalf of the Butterwick Hospice Appeal.

(Image: Newsquest) More colleagues taking part were prison officers from Durham Prison who were preparing for the 1999 Great North Run to raise money for Finchale Training College. Left to right: Allen Dunbar, Paul Walters, Jan Guy, Stevie Dodds, Davey Owens and Dave Whitfield.

(Image: Newsquest) Geoffrey Millar, caretaker at Timothy Hackworth School in Shildon, who was set to compete in the 1996 Great North Run to raise cash for security at the school(Image: Newsquest) Do you spot any familiar faces in the rest of our gallery?