London Marathon 2018: Race officially hottest on record as runners face sweltering temperatures

The Met Office confirmed a high of 23.2C, a record high for the event

The 2018 London Marathon is officially the hottest on record.

Runners were forced to deal with sweltering temperatures in the capital on Sunday with the Met Office confirming a high of 23.2C, a record high for the event.

Thousands of elite and amateur runners braved the challenging conditions with race organisers briefing earlier in the week prior to the race of what to expect.

Competitors were advised to drop their goal-times and more ice, water and run-through shower stations added along the 26.2-mile course.

The capital was bathed in sunshine on Sunday (Reuters)

People were already warned to forego any plans to run in fancy dress in the wake of the climbing temperatures.

In the elite men's race Britain's Mo Farah, competing in his second-ever marathon came home third in a new British record with Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge taking victory for a third time.

"I am knackered. The guys went for it, they were on for world record pace, so it was do or die. I went with it and hung in as much as I could," he said afterwards.

"It's so different to the track. It's incredible. It's different pain, different training but I've really enjoyed it. I gave it all, 110 per cent as I normally do.

"I've got a long way to go in the marathon. You get heavy legs. Mentally you've just got to be strong, take your drink and just pace yourself."

Earlier Olympic 5,000m champion Vivian Cheruiyot won the women's race at her second attempt.

Cheruiyot crossed the line in an unofficial personal best 2 hours, 18 minutes, 30 seconds, meaning that Paul Radcliffe’s 2:15.25 ‘mixed-gender’ race world record remains intact.

Farah collapses with exhaustion after his record run (AP)

Fellow Kenyan, Brigid Kosgei, was 1 minute, 42 seconds further back. Tadelech Bekele of Ethiopia was third.

Great Britain's Lily Partridge (2:29:29) claimed a personal best to finish eighth.

There was more home success with David Weir winning the men's wheelchair race for an eighth time after a sprint finish.

The 38-year-old Weir clocked 1:31:15 to beat Marcel Hug of Switzerland into second place, while Daniel Romanchuk of the United States was third.

Madison de Rozario of Australia won the women's wheelchair race for the first time ahead of four-time champion Tatyana McFadden, whose fellow American, Susannah Scaroni, was third.