Ma-rain-thon day for runners

It was one of the coldest and wettest London Marathons ever.

Yet a crowd of around 500,000 turned out to cheer on 33,000 runners as they battled against the elements during the 26.2mile race.

England's Rugby World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson started the athletes off from Greenwich Park, South-East London. Among celebrities taking part were model Nell McAndrew, TV presenter Lorraine Kelly and chef Gordon Ramsay.

For 44-year-old Kelly, crossing the finish was 'a very emotional experience'. She said: 'It was hard, very very hard. At 24 miles, just along the Embankment, the heavens opened. It was really tough.'

Disgraced peer Jeffrey Archer was attempting to smash the world marathon fundraising record on his first attempt by raising £1,661,220 - £1 for every inch of the course.

At 93, Fauja Singh was the oldest runner - and he only took up the sport at the age of 89.

'I want to run again next year,' he said. 'I have raised a lot of money for premature babies - that is really something.'