BIG-HEARTED runners from across Worcestershire powered through the pain barrier during this year's record-breaking London Marathon.

Among the local runners to take part today (Sunday) were the Malvern Joggers including Malvern musician Sam Eden who hopes to raise £2,000 for Arthritis Research UK.

He was running in memory of his mum who died in February last year after suffering from arthritis for 30 years.

Other Malvern runners included Sam Marshall, running for his grandmother in support of St Luke's Hospice in Basildon, Essex where she spent her last days; Tristan Mitchell, running for Christians Against Poverty, and Ros and Derek Goodman running on behalf of Motor Neurone Disease.

Worcestershire's top runner was Matt Bond of Sale Harriers Manchester who is originally from Wyre Piddle and attended King's School in Worcester.

He was the 26th man to finish and the 6th Briton to complete the race, running the marathon in 2 hours 21 minutes and 13 seconds, an emotional race for him following the recent death of his mother in whose memory he was running.

Thomas Bennett of Lower Wick, Worcester ran to raise money for the National Brain Appeal charity, a charity which supports the hospital where his neurological disorder, cerebellar atrophy, is monitored. The condition causes a tremor in his left arm and leg.

This year the runners received a royal send-off as a record number began the gruelling 26.2-mile feat.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry joined hands to press the traditional red button which started the elite men's and mass races with 40,000 competitors pounding the streets of the capital.

William, Kate and Harry champion the official charity of 2017's London Marathon - Heads Together - and earlier met racers competing for their campaign.

British wheelchair hero David Weir got the day off to a good start when he stormed to his seventh victory in the race as speculation rumbles over his retirement.

A world record was then smashed by Kenyan Mary Keitany, who claimed her third London Marathon crown by beating Paula Radcliffe's women's-only world best.

Hundreds of police will be on duty to keep about 800,000 spectators and runners safe, barely a month after crowds were targeted in the Westminster terror attack.