RUNNERS from west Wiltshire braved the rain to join an estimated 40,000 strong field in Sunday's Flora London Marathon.

Charities were the big winners on the day, with millions of pounds raised through the 26.2-mile race around the capital. Thomas Fairfield, 25 of Cornbrash Rise, Hilperton, raised £1,000 for the Arthritis Research Campaign, completing in five hours and seven minutes.

Afterwards he said: "I feel absolutely awful. I'm having to have a few of my toenails removed so my feet aren't looking too great. "I had to stop in the St John's Ambulance at one point with major cramp but on the plus side I've raised a lot of money for the charity. My son is very proud because he saw daddy on the TV."

Owen Margetts, 40, of Frome Road, Trowbridge, finished the race in just over six hours, along with the giant teddy he kidnapped from the Anchor and Hope pub. He was raising money for the Brain and Spine Foundation after his 11-year-old son Alistair suffered from a brain illness.

Unfortunately Mr Margetts developed a problem in his knee a few weeks before the marathon, which meant he was not able to run at his full potential. He said: "I just kept thinking of the finishing line and kept plodding along. I jogged some and walked most of it but I wouldn't mind doing it again when my knee is better to see what time I could achieve.

"It was good though and I really enjoyed it. One of my toes has gone black but that's not as bad as Sir Steve Redgrave, who said three of his went black."

Steve Russell, 34, from Moyle Park, Hilperton, ran his first marathon in four hours and 26 minutes, raising an estimated £1,200 for the Lymphoma Association. He said: "I struggled a bit towards the end but it was a fantastic experience." Mr Russell was cheered on to the finish line by his wife Heidi and children Adam, 12, and Shannon, 10.

Sian Short, 42, of Taylors View, Trowbridge, ran dressed as a pink fairy to raise more than £1,200 for children's charity Wish Upon a Star.

"I ran it in five hours, 24 minutes which was a slower time than I was hoping for, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and smiled all the way round," she said.

"You couldn't have asked for better support. There were plenty of shouts of go on pink fairy' from the crowd, and that certainly had the desired effect."