A Bexleyheath woman who ran the London Marathon has accused a race official of “vicious rudeness” after she was made to leave the race just meters before the finish line.

Carol Marsh, 58, has competed in three marathons in the past and qualified for the London Marathon 2018 as “good for age” because of her fast completion times.

She told News Shopper she had been enjoying the race and had Buckingham Palace in her sight when an official pulled her over to say her number had fallen off her t-shirt.

Although she said she was still wearing her tracking chip on her shoe, Ms Marsh claims the official told her she had to leave the race.

When Ms Marsh tried to explain she was a real contestant, the official allegedly told her she was lying.

“She actually said the words: 'You’re a liar',” Ms Marsh said.

She added: “Then the official went to a male colleague and they opened the metal gate and pushed me into the crowd.”

Because she was made to leave the race before the finish line, Ms Marsh said she did not receive the proper aftercare given to all participants.

“I was physically distressed and I had no water,” she said.

In a letter of complaint to the event’s organisers, Ms Marsh said she is “gutted” and cannot understand why she was not allowed to complete the last kilometre of the race before discussing the lost number.

She added “nobody could or would help me” as she struggled to find her belongings after being “thrown out” of the race.

She has demanded an explanation form marathon organisers and also an estimated finishing time, which she was denied when she was asked to leave the race.

Ms Marsh told News Shopper she had enjoyed the race until its untimely end and praised other officials for its smooth running.

“I think the marathon is fantastic. The water stops were all good.”

However, she added: “It’s a shame the official felt she had the power to do that to someone.”

Ms Marsh and her running club have contacted the Marathon’s organisers for an explanation and have been told the complaint is being dealt with.

A spokeswoman from the London Marathon told News Shopper she was unable to comment on the matter until Ms Marsh had received a response to her complaint.