A viral fitness instructor best known for his lockdown lessons hosted a 5-kilometre run on the seafront - and 2,000 people joined him.

Internet star Joe Wicks, known as The Body Coach, brought huge crowds to the Palace Pier on Brighton seafront this morning for a run to the Marina and back.

Crowds gathered around Joe, standing atop some wooden blocks outside the pier, to warm up before heading down Madeira Drive.

Joe Wicks warming the crowd upJoe Wicks warming the crowd up (Image: Jim Carey / Joe Wicks)

"I just love the community and bringing people together," said Joe. He uses his social media feed with millions of followers to bring runners together.

"I love that, wherever I go in the country, I will always have someone that wants to run with me.

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"It's about getting people out, it's about their mental health and a sense of community."

Joe said an estimated 2,000 runners took part in the event with runners spilling out into the road due to the crowds.

Runners heading down Madeira DriveRunners heading down Madeira Drive (Image: Jim Carey / Joe Wicks)

Afterwards, swathes of fans young and old waited to grab a selfie with the fitness fanatic. 

For some, Joe was a lifeline during the 2020 Covid-19 lockdowns with his regular fitness lessons, which could be done in the home, after he uploaded them on to online video platform YouTube for people to join in live.

Sessions for all ages - be it a replacement for PE in schools or for adults looking to stay active despite staying home - regularly reached an audience of millions.