Record numbers expected to start at London Marathon

Record numbers are expected to start the 2016 London Marathon on Sunday morning after nearly 40,000 registered for the race over the last four days.

When registration desks at the London Marathon Expo at ExCeL London closed at 17:00 on Saturday, a total of 39,698 accepted applicants had picked up their running numbers and Sports Timing tag.

Around 39,300 are predicted to start the race this year, smashing last year's record field of 38,020, meaning the 36th London Marathon is sure to mark a major milestone in the history of the event when its one millionth finisher crosses the finish line in The Mall some time Sunday afternoon.

Despite the expected chilly winds, around 38,700 should finish the race, easily beating the record 37,740 who crossed the line in 2015.

Every person who completes the 42.195-kilometer journey from Greenwich to Westminster will be celebrated as one of the Marathon's one-in-a-million finishers as they pass beneath the famous gantry with their left index finger raised.