RYEDALE runner Jake Smerdon - the youngest male runner at this year's London Marathon - finished the run in less than four hours.

Jake, who was 18 years and 18 days old on race day, completed the 26.2 miles in three hours 57 minutes.

He said: "I was really pleased as I was expecting closer to four hours 20 minutes. On the course I had a few issues, the first being at the 10th mile where my right knee became very sore, but thankfully that subdued after a couple more miles. Then it was all smooth up until the 23rd mile where I hit a real low point but thanks to the amazing atmosphere in those last few miles I was able to bounce back.

"It is by far the hardest thing I have ever done, however it is also the best atmosphere that I have ever been lucky enough to be part of."

Jake, a student at Ampleforth College, was joined in the race by another student from the school; Digby Usher ran for Save the Children and also completed it in just under four hours.

And yet another representative from Ampleforth was teacher Gabrielle Foster, who ran to raise money for the charity Saphara.

Saphara means "journey with purpose" and runs educational programmes for children in India living in abject poverty.

Ms Foster said: "I hope that my efforts will help to raise valuable funds to support Indian children who, without the support of Saphara, would not have the opportunity to attend school."