Eliud Kipchoge finished the Virgin London Marathon yesterday in just two hours, three minutes and four seconds - beating the course record.

It is the second-fastest run in history over the distance.

The 31-year-old Kenyan left the field trailing as he powered home, celebrating by raising his finger as he made the final turn.

However, he appeared to realise just before the line, which could have been all that prevented him from breaking Dennis Kimetto’s world record.

Kipchoge brought his hand to his forehead as he saw his time, which was just seven seconds outside Kimetto’s mark made in Berlin two years ago, but was soon smiling again as he celebrated a stunning run.

Fellow Kenyan Stanley Biwott was second with a personal best of 2.03:51, while Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele was third.

In the women’s race, Kenya’s Jemima Sumgong overcame a heavy fall to win her first title ahead of defending women’s champion Tigist Tufa.

Sumgong took a tumble at around 23 miles, apparently tangling feet with Aselefech Mergia in an incident that also saw one of the favourites Mary Keitany fall.

Sumgong, who has been a runner-up in the Boston, Chicago and New York marathons, cracked her head against the floor but ignored her clear discomfort to rejoin the leading pack and eventually pass them.

She finished in an unofficial time of two hours 22 minutes and 58 seconds.

In the men’s wheelchair David Weir was again denied a record seventh title, as Marcel Hug won a sprint finish. Weir finished second in 2014 and 2015 and was edged into third this time, with Switzerland’s Hug powering towards the finish line ahead of American Kurt Fearnley.

Fearnley’s fellow American Tatyana McFadden continued her domination of the women’s wheelchair race, claiming her fourth successive victory.

Hundreds of runners from Suffolk and north Essex lined up at the start line, some running as part of a club, others raising money for charity and some just proving to themselves that they could meet the challenge.

In Tuesday’s paper we will be running a full round up results, if you ran and want to be included, send us details of your time via email - deadline midday.