Hundreds of runners from Sussex completed the London Marathon in sweltering conditions yesterday.

A record field of more than 36,500 took on the 26-mile course in temperatures which soared above 21C, the hottest the race has been run in.

The weather also drew record crowds of spectators, with hundreds of thousands lining the streets to cheer on the runners.

Doctors gave out health warnings and St John Ambulance crews said a high number of competitors had collapsed at the finish line.

Successful Sussex runners included former Olympic champion Sally Gunnell, from Steyning, and knitting fan Susie Hewer, 49, from Ewhurst Green, near Robertsbridge, who set herself the target of becoming the first person to knit all the way around the course - producing a lengthy scarf as she went.

Derek Cosham, from Lancing, braved the heat inside a fluffy greyhound costume as he jogged through the capital in support of the Brighton Retired Greyhound Trust The Argus sports reporter Steve Hollis and pre-press employees Hayley Coleman and Andy Wright all completed the course to raise funds for The Argus Appeal charity. Steve said: "It was horrible - it was so hot that it made it a real struggle the whole way round. I was hoping to finish in under four hours but it took me about four hours and 23 minutes in the end.

"It feels great to have done it, though, after all the hard work. The supporters were absolutely amazing as we went round. They really keep you going cheering you on all the way."

Celebrity runners included rugby player Matt Dawson and chef Gordon Ramsay.

Mr Ramsay said it had been like running in a desert and many competitors had struggled. He said: "I stopped to help one guy. It was quite bad. They were dropping like flies."

The men's race was won by Kenyan Martin Lel, who held off the challenge of favourite Haile Gebrselassie and world record holder Paul Tergat, with a time of two hours and seven minutes.

Dan Robinson was the top Briton, finishing ninth in two hours and 14 minutes.

Favourite Chunxiu Zhou, from China, won the women's race after breaking away from Lornah Kiplaget and Gete Wami at the 22- mile mark to finish in two hours and 19 minutes. Britain's top woman was Mara Yamauchi, who finished sixth in two hours and 25 minutes.

The wheelchair marathon was won by Briton Dave Weir.

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