The 37-year-old Ethiopian, the marathon world-record holder and two-time Olympic 10,000 metres champion, who was competing in the North-East half-marathon event for the first time, broke away at the halfway point to claim victory well ahead of Kenya's Kiplimo Kimutai.

In the women's race, Mara Yamauchi's bid to become the first British winner since Paula Radcliffe in 2003 ended in disappointment as she could only finish fifth behind another Ethiopian, Berhane Adere.

Gebrselassie won the 30th edition of the event in 59min 33sec, outside the course record of 59:05 but a comfortable 1:50 ahead of Kimutai.

Morocco's former world marathon champion Jaouad Gharib was third.

Gebrselassie, who has set 26 world records in his career and is rated the greatest distance runner of all time, felt he could have gone faster had he been pushed.

"I was wonderful," said the four-time world 10,000m champion, who had been due to compete in the Great North Run in 2000 but had to pull out through injury.

"I needed someone to keep the pace until the last two kilometres and then it would have been perhaps a bit faster.

"It was great win, this is something very special."

Adere, the former world 10,000m champion, pulled away in the final 800m to win in 68:49, considerably faster than her winning time in 2006 of 70:03.

Portugal's Ana Dulce Felix finished second in 69:01.

"It was a nice race which I’ve run many times and I’m happy with my time," said Adere.

"She [Felix] really pushed me."