Long distance runners Melanie Bernitz and Brad Katcher came from New York to race in aid of World Jewish Relief, crossing the line hand-in-hand in a time of 4:56.

"It was the most amazing day," Ms Bernitz said. "The crowd support pulled us along and we were thrilled to support WJR."

Also running for WJR were north London father and son Michael and Greg Ilsen, who posted respective times of 5:26 and 5:37. "It was the toughest but most rewarding experience of my life," Greg Ilsen said. "I had to hobble through the final third with cramp in every muscle. But the feeling crossing the finish line is like nothing else." The WJR team raised more than £12,000 for its work in Eastern Europe.