37 pictures which capture the spirit of the 37th London Marathon

Approximately 50,000 runners took to the streets of the capital on Sunday for the 37th annual London Marathon.

The mass race began with a royal send off as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry joined hands to press the traditional red button which signalled the start of the elite men's and mass races.

There would be double delight for Kenya as Daniel Wanjiru and Mary Keitany won the men’s elite and women’s elite races respectively, while an old star shone once again in London.

David Weir, competing in his eighteenth consecutive London Marathon, won his seventh elite wheelchair race after a late sprint finish. Manuela Schar of Switzerland would win the women’s event.

But the pinnacle of sporting achievement was only matched by the humility on show, personified by in one moment just yards from the finish line.

Runner Matthew Rees, 29, stopped to help David Wyeth who was struggling with fatigue at the pair rounded the final stretch of the Mall.

Both men would finish with impressive times with Rees recording two hours, 52 minutes and 26 seconds, while Wyeth came in one minute and 16 seconds before.

Scroll through the gallery at the top of the article to view our 37 favourite pictures from this year’s marathon.