Marathon marred by runner's death

About 37,500 runners took part in the London Marathon, which finished in front of Buckingham Palace (EPA)

Tragedy struck the London Marathon yesterday when a 30-year-old woman collapsed and died with only a mile of the race to go.

With just one bend left before the final straight on the Mall in front of Buckingham Palace, she fell to the tarmac on Birdcage Walk next to St James's Park.

Despite receiving medical attention from London Ambulance crews at the scene, she was later declared dead in hospital. It was the 10th death in the event since it began in 1981, and the first since a 22-year-old fitness instructor died in 2007.

The organisers of the 26.2 mile race, in which about 37,500 runners took part, said in a statement on their website: "We would like to emphasise that our immediate concern is for the family of the deceased.