Thousands tackling London Marathon
Tens of thousands of runners have set off on the London Marathon.
Fun runners, charity fundraisers and those in fancy dress joined professional athletes in tackling the 26.2-mile course.
The elite women began at 9am and were followed by the elite men and the bulk of the 35,000-strong crowd at 9.45.
The runners left Greenwich Park on their way east past Woolwich Royal Artillery barracks before winding back to cross the river at Tower Bridge.
The course will take them around Docklands to the City and across the finishing line on the Mall. The weather was warm and bright, with temperatures of 12C (54F) expected to rise to a maximum of 16C (61F) by around 2pm.
Former glamour model Katie Price, running for children's charity Vision, told the BBC she had already suffered a knee injury before the race.
"The physio saw it last night and they strapped it up at 5.45am so hopefully it will stay all right. But I'm still going to finish it, whether I'm limping. It's for charity and I want to get past the finish line."
Top chef Gordon Ramsay is competing in his 10th London marathon in a row. He is aiming to finish in just over three-and-a-half hours as he runs for the Scottish Spina Bifida Association.
He said: "It's time for a celebration. We're fighting a global credit crunch, and in terms of coming out and having fun, it costs nothing to come and watch."
Gail Emms, who won a silver medal in the badminton mixed doubles at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, said: "I am so shaking, I can't believe it. I just have no idea what to expect. I'm completely out of my comfort zone."
