A record number of runners competed in the London Marathon in sweltering heat yesterday.

Temperatures hit 21C at midday, equalling the 1996 record, and rose slightly higher in the afternoon as the 36,500 athletes made their way around the famous 26.2 mile course.

Extra doctors, vast supplies of water and special walk-through showers were on hand to help them deal with the heat.

Newsquest graphic designer and yourlocalguardian.co.uk blogger Bob Noble completed in his first marathon in just over five hours, despite being hampered by an Achilles heel injury in the lead up to the event.

"I saw a physiotherapist and he said I wouldn't be able to run it all, so I ran to 19 miles and then jogged and walked each mile after that," he said.

"I just wanted to finish it. I started off slowly and just treated it as a bit of fun.

"It was a fantastic day, with a great atmosphere because of the huge crowds that were eight or nine deep.

"My family were cheering me along the way and had a great time spectating."

Bob ran in aid of three charities - Dysart School Kingston, Wandsworth charity Contact a Family and The Noble Trust, for autistic children.

To read Bob's blog about his big day click here

Wandsworth Guardian reporter Alexander Carnwath finished the race in four hours and 52 minutes, raising money for Hemihelp, a charity supporting children with hemiplegia, a condition similar to cerebral palsy which affects one side of the body.

"The crowd was amazing," he said. "It felt fantastic initially, running down from Greenwich Park, before I became really tired.

"It was just a brilliant, beautiful sunny day. I was running round parts of London I had never seen before."

Winner of the men's race was Martin Lel, the winner in 2005, while Zhou Chunxiu became the first Chinese woman to win the London Marathon.

Britain's David Weir defended his wheelchair title and Shelly Woods, 20, took the women's race, finishing in one hour, 50 minutes and 41 seconds.