Thousands cross finish line of London Marathon as temperatures hit 22.2C

Thousands of runners have crossed the finishing line of the 45th TCS London Marathon as temperatures hit 22.2C in the English capital.

More than 56,000 participants were expected on the 26.2-mile course, including celebrities, MPs and the fathers of two girls killed in the Southport attack.

Crowds of supporters, many holding banners, have lined the streets of the city to cheer on the runners and wave to their loved ones.

London could set a new record for the world’s biggest marathon, which is currently held by the TCS New York Marathon in November when there were 55,646 finishers.

Among the participants are David Stancombe and Sergio Aguiar, whose daughters Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, were murdered in the Southport mass stabbing last summer.

They are raising money for projects in memory of their daughters and Bebe King, six, who was also killed at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in July.

In a video message posted on X, UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer wished the pair “the very best of luck”, adding, “the entire nation is in awe of your courage and your resilience”.

Wishing the very best of luck to David and Sergio today — what an incredible way to honour the memory of your daughters. pic.twitter.com/f3IsqUj5Uz

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) April 27, 2025

In an interview with BBC Breakfast, Mr Stancombe said: “Even now it still blows me away that so many people know about it and you’re getting messages from the Prime Minister.”

Among this year’s celebrity participants was radio presenter Adele Roberts who said she hopes her world record-breaking marathon runs show people with cancer they can “achieve anything”.

Roberts, who was previously treated for bowel cancer, broke the record for