Runners from across Oxfordshire raised thousands of pounds for charity in yesterday's London Marathon.

They were among the 40,000 runners, aged from 18 to their 80s, who braved damp weather to complete the 26-mile course, which started at Blackheath and ended in the Mall.

Rachel Simpkins, 26, from Witney, took part in her first marathon in memory of a school friend who died last year, and completed the run in five hours and 14 minutes.

Midwife Miss Simpkins, of Pensclose, was running the marathon in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust because her friend Catherine Griffiths, of Eynsham, died of the genetic disorder last May, aged 26.

She said afterwards: "I feel a bit sore but I'm OK and I am very pleased with what I have achieved. It was very hard going after 16 miles but after that I got dragged along on adrenaline."

Henry McLean, 22, from Pembroke Street, Oxford, was running to raise £1,000 for Oxford Samaritans.

He said: "It was raining for most of the race, so it was quite cold, but my family were there to cheer me on.

"I finished in just over four hours and beat my time from last year so I'm delighted."

Samantha Sole, 40, of The Green, Leafield, near Witney, is hoping to raise £1,000 for the Meningitis Trust, after completing the run in five hours and 45 minutes.

Her daughter Maddie suffered meningitis aged seven weeks but made a full recovery from the illness.

Mrs Sole said: "I didn't go round very quickly but I didn't hit any kind of 'wall' and I didn't get injured, so I'm very pleased with my first marathon. The crowd was fantastic and everyone was very supportive."

Paddy Reaney, 44, from Kennington, Oxford, was running his fourth marathon his second in London and completed it in three hours 33 minutes.

He has raised £1,000 for the Kennington Cancer Fund, which has collected £178,273 for the medical oncology unit at the Churchill Hospital in Headington, since 1990.

He said: "I suffered for the last couple of miles and had to walk a little bit but I'm still quite pleased with the way it went, although I would have liked to beat three hours and 30 minutes."

Dave Kerridge, 44, from Langford Village, Bicester, finished in about four hours and 30 minutes to raise £1,000 for Oxfordshire Mind.

The telecoms company team leader said after completing his fourth London marathon: "It was incredibly hard going, but I'm really glad I finished the course for this good cause."

Kate Watkinson, 33, from Ravenscroft, Bicester, raised more than £1,000 for the Brain and Spine Foundation after completing the race in four hours and 40 minutes.

She was running in memory of former Donnington Health Centre colleague Jean Smith, who died of a brain tumour last year.

Miss Watkinson said afterwards: "The last couple of miles were tough and I'm aching now and I've got a few blisters."

The women's race was the first to start and finish, won by US athlete Deena Kastor in under a 2hr 20min time.

Mara Yamauchi, who originally came from Oxford, was the first British woman home in sixth.

Kenya's Felix Limo won the men's race.