CRAVEN runners are celebrating after completing the London Marathon and raising thousands of pounds for good causes.

Colin Fishwick, who is Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at Leeds University, was raising money for cancer research and finished the 26-mile course in five hours and 37 minutes.

Colin, 53, who lives near Cowling, said: "It was an absolutely brilliant day that I will never forget!"

He said he was acutely aware of the need to fight cancer, not only through his work but also through losing his mother, Joyce, to breast cancer in 2103 and his father-in-law Jack to stomach cancer just a few months later.

"It underlined the terrible loss that we, as well as many others, face on a daily basis because of cancer," he said.

Colin is still accepting donations on his justgiving site, Colin-Fishwick1

Lawkland man Rob Brown, who runs the PlayBarn in Settle, was raising money for St John's Hospice, Lancaster, where both his parents, Nora and Paul, spent time as they battled against cancer.

He finished in just over four hours and 50 minutes and raised £1,100.

His wife, Sally-Anne, said: "It was an exciting and emotional day. I think he might do it again, but he needs a rest first!"

Principle Healthcare employee Steve Matthews raised £500 for the Principle Trust - which gives holidays to disadvantaged children - after crossing the finish line in five hours and four minutes.

A company spokesman said: "We are very proud of him – what an achievement for his first effort."

Twenty-two-year-old archery star Georgie Brown, from Lothersdale, participated to raise money for St John Ambulance and has so far collected £1,200.

She finished the race in four hours 25 minutes, despite having spent the previous day taking part in a demanding archery selection shoot for the World Student Games.