RUNNERS from across West Somerset will be among those lining up at the start of one of the world's top sporting events - the London Marathon - on Sunday.

The Free Press has featured a number of the hopefuls over the last couple of months, including our own special publications manager John Lockyer who won a place in the prestigious road race at the sixth attempt.

John, who is hoping to complete the course in just under four hours, has more than £1,000 pledged so far for his chosen charity, the Anthony Nolan Trust, which manages and recruits bone marrow donors to help adults and children with leukaemia or other life-threatening conditions.

Minehead woman Emily Bromfield (pictured) will also be in the running and has been training for many months, as well as organising fundraising events.

The 31-year-old, who will be cheered along the 26-mile route by family and friends, is raising money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society and a recent coffee morning at her grandfather Peter Middleton's house in Minehead, raised more than £300 towards her £2,000 target.

Emily is already a veteran half marathon runner, having completed the Liverpool and London events.

Minehead Barbarians rugby player Martin Cook will also be among the West Somerset contingent.

Martin, 28, lives in West Bagborough and runs Quantock and Exmoor Tree Care.

He will be running for Cancer Research UK, a charity close to his heart after the loss of a number of family relatives to the disease.

Martin's girlfriend and his parents will be supporting his efforts and although he completed the Snowdonia Marathon last October, he admitted he had only been training for the London event for a month.

"But I play rugby regularly and my job keeps me pretty fit," he said.