WHILE they couldn't quite match Paula Radcliffe's world record-breaking time, local runners raised around £5,000 completing the London Marathon.

Half a dozen athletes from the area spent this week recuperating from the 26-mile run after being among 32,563 finishers in last Sunday's race.

Martyn Kyle, from Ledbury, said he was surprised how good he felt.

"As long as I don't sit down for too long I'm fine," he said.

Mr Kyle has so far raised more than £1,000 for Cancer Research UK.

Malvern running partners Andy Myhill and Alison Merley raised around £3,000 between them for Children with Leukaemia.

Andy said of his first London Marathon run: "It was a good experience, more enjoyable than I expected. The crowds were amazing."

Lisa Howard, a fitness supervisor at Ledbury swimming pool, raised more than £700 for Cancer and Leukaemia in Childhood.

It had been a lifetime ambition to compete in the race. "The crowds make such a difference. I put my name on my vest and every 20 yards someone was calling out my name which helped," she said.

Graham Kershaw, resident artist at Ledbury's Shell House Gallery's said he wouldn't be running again.

"It was difficult. My target was to run the entire race and those last few miles were hard work. But I managed to run it all."

Mr Kershaw's raised more than £500 for the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association.