TWO record-breaking marathon runners were among Worcestershire competitors who took part in Sunday’s Virgin London Marathon.

Sophie Wood, of Battenhall Road, Worcester and Bruce Moore, of Shrawley, near Worcester, ran the gruelling 26.2 miles dressed in costumes to break Guinness World Records.

Miss Wood, aged 26, became the fastest female to run a marathon in a school uniform. She crossed the finish line in an impressive three hours, 14 minutes and 34 seconds, beating the previous record by an hour.

She was running for the Vital Voices Malala Fund after being inspired by the Pakistani schoolgirl who was shot in the head by the Taliban on a bus.

“It went really, really well,” Miss Wood said. “As I reached the 25th mile I was able to enjoy it because I knew I was going to do it.”

Once she crossed the finish line, she was presented with a certificate from Guinness World Records and shook hands with Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin group.

Miss Wood is still collecting money at her fund-raising site firstgiving.com/fundraiser/ sophiewood/londonmarathon.

Bruce Moore wore a furry gorilla costume and mask to break the record as the fastest man to complete the marathon in a full body animal costume.

Raising money for Community Service Volunteers, the father-of-four set the record at three hours, 31minutes and 36 seconds despite the warm weather.

The 48-year-old is chief executive of Hanover Housing Association where staff and residents are celebrating its 50th anniversary by raising money for charities.

He bought the suit from Amazon and said that while it was heavy, hairy and claustrophobic, he hoped it would raise a few eyebrows, make people smile and prompt some generous donations.

“I didn’t do much training in the suit apart from a couple of relatively short runs because it is quite difficult to run in with a full plastic mask and quite heavy – and it does attract quite a bit of attention,” he said.

Anyone wishing to donate can log on to justgiving.com/Bruce-Moore.

Meanwhile, Steven Gwilliam, of Droitwich, raised £1,700 for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign after completing Sunday’s event. He took on the challenge for the son of his friends, Mark and Jane Fields, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

He said: “It was the toughest challenge of my life and I feel really proud to have completed the race. My muscles may be feeling sore now but they will recover in a few days.”

Tony Frobisher, whose disabled daughter had her wish of visiting Disney World come true last year, ran the marathon to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation which made it possible.

Six-year-old Milla was born at just 24 weeks and has severe spastic quadriplegia and cerebral palsy and Mr Frobisher, 44, ran the marathon so others could have their dreams come true.

“I wanted to raise money for them to help give some of our most vulnerable children a lasting memory,” he said.

And Malvern doctor Alison Findlay raised £1,200 for the causes that supported her baby son when he underwent life-saving open heart surgery.

Dr Findlay, 41, said she was very pleased with her time of four hours, 49 minutes in her first marathon. She will split the money between Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House.

Dr Findlay’s son William, now two, was born with a congenital heart defect and underwent a delicate operation at the hospital when he was six months old.

“It was a fantastic experience and the atmosphere was just amazing,” she said.