Runners from across the Newmarket area were among the thousands who crossed the finishing line following the gruelling 26-mile event through the streets of the capital.

One of them was Freckenham woman Sarah Matthews, who completed the race in four hours 35 minutes.

So far, the 39 year old has raised £5,500 for The Institute of Cancer Research, which is based at the Royal Marsden Hospital, London, but money is still rolling in.

"I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought,"she said.

"I had very sore legs on Monday and I got absolutely soaking wet, but it was fantastic."

Despite hurting her ankle during the marathon, 28-year-old Emma-Louise McKenney managed to finish in five hours 38 minutes.

"The last 20 miles were a little bit painful but I still managed to cross the finish line," said Emma-Louise, who lives in Kingfisher Drive, Soham.

So far she has raised just under £1,000 for Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Territorial Army warrant officer Keith Smith completed the course in four hours 12 minutes.

Keith, who lives in Studlands Park, Newmarket, has raised more than £300 for Help for Heroes, a charity which helps wounded, injured or traumatised service men and women returning from current conflicts.

It was the ninth London Marathon for race veteran Paul Cole, of Exning.

Running in aid of the Elimination of Leukaemia Fund, Paul finished in three hours 57 minutes, which he said was his personal best.

"It was tough, especially with the rain halfway round the course," said Paul.

Prison officer Ian Blatchford crossed the finish line in four hours one minute and said he had drummed up around £1,000 for children's cancer charity, Clic Sargent.

Darley nominations manager Dawn Laidlaw joined a team of 13 runners to raise funds for Racing Welfare.

Dawn completed the marathon in four hours nine minutes and raised £9,000 for the charity, despite problems with her training due to a joint injury.

She was joined by Charlie Hancock, husband of former Newmarket Racecourse managing director Lisa Hancock, who clocked the fastest time of the 13, coming in at three hours 30 minutes.

Newmarket car dealer Kevin Williams, who did no training, finished in five hours 57 minutes, also for Racing Welfare.

Among the other competitors was Six Mile Bottom farmer Charlie Fenwick, who finished in a time of three hours 52 minutes, and raised £3,000 in aid of the Royal British Legion, and Exning runner Clare Fleming, who finished in three hours 37 minutes, raising more than £1,500 for the Anthony Nolan Trust.

In his fifth London Marathon, Newmarket man Chris Cason completed the event in three hours 37 minutes for national deaf blind charity, Sense, raising £1,100 to date.

Mark Hart, domestic bursar at Ely's King's School, completed his fourth marathon in three hours 58 minutes, earning more than £2,500 for Asthma UK.