Great North Run organisers have apologised after medals given to participants in this year’s event featured the wrong city and river.

About 60,000 people completed the 13.1m (21km) half-marathon on Sunday with each of them handed a medal incorporating an image of what was supposed to be an aerial view of Newcastle, Gateshead, South Shields and the River Tyne.

However, acknowledging the items actually showed nearby Sunderland and the River Wear which have no involvement in the event, the Great Run Company admitted it had “made a mistake”.

The image’s designer, Newcastle-based artist Howard Lee, has been approached for comment.

In a statement organisers said “eagle-eyed” people had spotted the error, which was also featured on merchandise such as clothing.

They claimed it made it “the most unique t-shirt and medal in Great North Run history, a keepsake that we’ll be talking about in 44 years’ time”.

“Wear sorry!” they said, in a joking reference to Sunderland’s Wearside location.

“To answer the rumours that this was the route reveal for next year… sorry to disappoint, it’s a mistake.

“Lots of people looked very closely at the designs and none of us picked it up.

“We had Newcastle United stars on the start line and the Stadium of Light on the medal.

“The Great North Run is truly a celebration of the region, even more so than we had planned.”

The event’s founder, Sir Brendan Foster, said he had “spent ages marvelling” at the designs and “never spotted the mistake” even when they were displayed in the window of city centre department store Fenwick.

He added: “I’ve lived on the River Tyne my whole life and I should’ve noticed.

“But if I’d run the Great North Run yesterday, I’d still be wearing my medal with pride.

“Thanks to everyone who took part in an amazing event yesterday and all the supporters who came out to cheer on the runners.

“It was a fantastic Great North Run, and we’re already looking forward to 2026 after we’ve brushed up on our geography.”

Ahead of the event, artist Mr Howard said he felt “very privileged” to have been involved with this year’s medal, which he described as being “quite a striking design”.