Thousands of runners have left Blackheath to take part in the 2015 London Marathon.

36,000 determined amateur competitors set off at 10.10am to complete to 26.2 mile course.

Organisers expect around 37,800 runners to start the race this year, compared with the previous record of 37,227 in 2012.

An estimated 750,000 spectators are lining the streets as world record holder Paula Radcliffe takes part in her final competitive marathon.

The 41-year-old will start at the head of the massed ranks rather than the elite field.

Her women's marathon world record of 2:15:25, set in London in 2003, is almost three minutes faster than any other woman has ever run.

Conditions are reasonably good for the runners with just patchy rain and mild temperatures on a gloomy day in the capital.

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Met Office meteorologist Mark Wilson said: "It's not looking too bad.

"It will be a cloudy morning with some patchy rain on and off throughout the morning. The rain doesn't look like it will be very heavy.

"Through the afternoon it should turn generally dry with some late afternoon brightness.

"Temperatures will be fairly mild so around 8C for the run which is not so good for the spectators standing on the side of the road but pretty good running conditions."

Celebrities taking part in the course include ex-superbike champion turned musician, James Toseland who recently filmed a new music video in Belvedere.

Read News Shopper's 26.2 facts about the London Marathon here.

Send your marathon stories and pictures to fiona.simpson@london.newsquest.co.uk