'I'm proud to have come last at the London Marathon'

Clair Roberts finished the marathon in 12 hours and 16 minutes, at an alternative finish line [handout] The runner who finished last at the London Marathon said it was a "huge privilege" to raise money for a charity that she says saved her life during a "very dark" time. Clair Roberts, from Milton Keynes, completed the course in 12 hours and 16 minutes, finishing just before midnight. The 35-year-old has raised nearly £2,000 for the suicide prevention charity Samaritans, which she now volunteers for after turning to them seven years ago, when she had thoughts of ending her life.

"I was battling a lot of emotions on Sunday; it was so much harder than I thought it would be. But to be the last person to cross that line feels really special, and I'm proud of myself," she said. Ms Roberts crossed the line at the secondary finish in St James's park, for runners who finish in over eight hours Ms Roberts has volunteered answering phone calls for the charity since the pandemic.

"During a really tough time in my life, they saved me from myself. I plunged into very dark times, but it is amazing what one phone call can do," she said. As well as struggling with her emotions on the day, she had a virus and injuries in the run-up to the race.

"You can prepare and prepare, but if it doesn't come together on race day, it's a very tough experience. I have previously done a half-marathon, but I have never pushed my body that hard before," she added. "But I kept thinking, if I could get through that dark period in my life, I could get through this.