Magnetic resonance apparatus is provided comprising a magnet having a plurality of pairs of coils arranged in respective substantially parallel planes. The coils in each pair are operable in a counter-running manner when in use so as to generate a region of magnetic field spaced apart from said planes, having sufficient uniformity to enable magnetic resonance signals to be obtained from a target within the region. The magnetic field has a magnetic field direction Z lying substantially parallel to said planes and each of the coils is elongate in a direction X substantially parallel to said planes.