Runners from across Sussex travelled to the capital yesterday to compete in the London Marathon.

About 35,000 runners pounded the streets in sunshine and showers, passing many of the city's main tourist attractions on the 26.2-mile route.

Entrants from Sussex included a 62-year-old woman, an 18-year-old schoolboy and many first-time runners who were all raising money for good causes.

One of the most remarkable stories is that of Vince Golding who was lying in a hospital bed in a coma when the marathon took place last year.

The 44-year-old, from Maidenbower, Crawley, almost bled to death and suffered multiple fractures when he was hit by a van while cycling to Cowfold, near Horsham.

The father-of-two, who was a 400m county champion in the 1980s, decided to run the marathon as a way of getting himself back to health.

Worthing borough councillor Clive Roberts ran his first marathon after losing more than two and a half stone to reach his goal.

The father-of-three, who is 51 and lives in Shelley Road, Worthing, used to struggle to run 200 metres to catch a train but yesterday he ran the route raising money for the National Autistic Society.

Before the marathon he said: "I'm looking forward to running down the Mall and collecting my runner's medal. The sense of achievement will be immense and that is what is getting me up for the long runs every morning."

Other Sussex runners this year included Jo Etheridge, 62, from Hangleton, who took up running two years ago and was raising money for Crimestoppers.

Sarah Stanley and Leanne Hayward, from Midhurst, ran in memory of their father Colin Johnson, who died from cancer two years ago on the day of the London Marathon and Karen Lambert, 25, from Burgess Hill, raised money for St Peter and St James' Hospice in Wivelsfield.

Yesterday's marathon started without a hitch but 13 miles into the course the route was changed slightly because of a gas leak.

A chicane was created near Canary Wharf to move runners to the other side of the road, meaning two metres was added to the course. Most runners were not affected as the change was made at 10.45am when only the elite athletes had reached the 13- mile point.

The men's race was won by favourite Martin Yel, from Kenya, who set a record of two hours and five minutes. Irina Mikitenko, from Germany, won the women's race in two hours and 24 minutes.

The men's wheelchair race was won by Briton David Weir, who did the course in one hour and 33 minutes, and the women's wheelchair race by Sandra Graf, from Switzerland, in one hour and 48 minutes.