Runners from the North Norfolk area braved the hot conditions to join thousands of others taking part in the London Marathon at the weekend.

Among them was Daphne Hathaway, 75, who took part in the marathon despite having terminal bone marrow cancer – which has left her bones so brittle that she had to walk the 26 miles and 385 yards. She managed to complete the course in around seven hours.

Mrs Hathaway, who lives at Threehammer Common, near Wroxham, said: 'The main drawback was the hot weather but I am very pleased. It was a new experience for me having to walk rather than run, but it meant I made friends with the people who were slow-walking or jogging.'

Mrs Hathaway was taking part to raise money for research into Alzheimer's, which has hit four of her close relatives in recent years, including her husband, Andy.

Also taking part was hairdresser Tracy Fabb, 30, from Stalham, ran for the first time and hopes to have raised about �2,000 for animal rescue charity Faith, based at Hickling.

She said: 'It was good but I don't know my exact time as I forgot to put my stopwatch on. I think it was about 4h 45m, which is a bit disappointing, as I was doing 23 miles in training in 3h 44m. But I was stuck behind so many people I could not get by them. I'm pleased I've done it though.'

A trio of lifeboatmen from Cromer also ran wearing their full inshore lifeboat kit, drysuit, lifejacket and helmet.

Will Amey, along with two other members of Cromer lifeboat crew, Jason King and Dean Johnson, were raising money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), and have already collected about �5,000.

Mr Amey said: 'We ran together and did it in 6h 45m. I knew it was going to be difficult and I was nearly done at 14 miles. But it's one of those things that you can say you have done it. It was amazing with everyone giving you sweets and cheering you on.'

Catherine Cobley, from Norwich, ran the London Marathon to raise money for Trigeminal Neuralgia Association UK. Her mum, Dot Cobley, who lives in Cromer, was diagnosed with illness Trigeminal Neuralgia, a nerve disorder, in 2009.

Miss Cobley, 25, managed to raise more than �1,000 for the charity and completed the race in under six hours.

Police community support officer Lucy Collyer, who lives near Coltishall, managed to finish the marathon within 3h 53m and although the exact amount she has raised is still being counted, she knows she has raised at least between �1,500 and �2,000 to buy a defibrillator for the Stalham & Smallburgh Area First Responders.

Also taking part in the marathon were Simon Bryant, finishing in 3h 21m and Vance Curle, with a time of 4h 20m, both from Aylsham, who helped raise funds for the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

Steve Whitby, deputy chief executive of the East Anglian Air Ambulance, said: 'Congratulations to all those who ran the marathon on our behalf. We are truly grateful to all those who raised money for us and to those who sponsored them.'