FESTIVAL SQUASH

Hi all need some advice on squashes, have grown festival and cobnut squashes this year for first time only got allotment in January.  I am pleased with how festival squash are doing, have about a dozen decent size squashes and quiet a few small ones.  A friendly neighbour has told me I should cut runners back, so was hoping some of you can tell me by how much? and should I have done this earlier. I am in Norfolk and should I take some of the older leaves off to let light in to ripen fruits             Thanks 

Thanks thats a big help, will get that job done at lotty tomorrow thanks again