THERE was disappointment on London marathon day for Andover mother of four, Amanda Taylor.

A muscle injury which hit her after a 16-mile run on Easter Sunday, prevented her taking part.

"I thought long and hard about it." the 38 year-old said.

"But I realised for the sake of my children and my health I just couldn't take part - but I'll be there next year. I have an automatic place so it's back to swimming and then the gym.

"It's done me a lot of good. This time last year, I couldn't run for a bus and talk at the end of it. Now, I've taken part in the Reading half marathon and I was ready to tackle the full distance."

Despite her enforced television viewing of the event, Amanda will still be sending nearly £300 to the charity Family Holidays Association and intends to hold a fundraising event for the organisation later this year.

There was success for seven runners raising cash for the Enabling Partnership, a national charity which includes Enham, RADAR and Shopmobility UK.

Partnership chief executive, Michael Smith, based at Enham, got home in four hours 30 minutes while Sheila Ridge, also from Enham, took only another 28 minutes to pass the finishing tape.

Others helping Enham but not based locally, were James McCosker-Smith, Peter Groves, Tim Parkinson, Patrick Greenway and Dennis Wheatley, the only one to come in under four hours with a time of three hours 28 minutes.