Julie Owen and Lorraine Weir, who both work at Sawtry Leisure Centre, smashed through their original target of £4,000 to raise £4,397.76 by taking part in this year's gruelling 26.2-mile event.

After suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS) for the past 11 years, Mrs Weir, from St Ives, took up running five years ago to help ease her symptoms.

The 39-year-old soon teamed up with Mrs Owen (53), from Sawtry, who started running after retiring.

Mrs Weir had originally been aiming to beat her previous time of four hours and 38 minutes, but, because she was in the middle of a relapse, she was just grateful to make the starting line-up.

She said: "I was still not feeling the best when I started and I found it a lot tougher this time.

"At the 17-mile point, I was on my last legs, but Julie spurred me on and then I saw my husband in the crowd and I knew I had to keep going.

"That's my last marathon. I wanted to do it again before I was 40, and now I can retire."

The pair crossed the finish line together in a time of four hours and 45 minutes, just seven minutes shy of their previous record.

The sums raised will help boost the coffers of the MS Resource Centre, in Essex, which is instrumental in helping sufferers get back to work.

Although running might be out of the question, Mrs Weir is not taking a complete rest from exercise.

She added: "I am thinking of taking up bike riding and have started swimming.

"I'm not taking it too easy."

The pair were keen to raise money for the MS Resource Centre because Mrs Owen's sister is also a sufferer.

The national charity is committed to supporting anyone affected by MS by providing a 24-hour freephone telephone counselling service which is available 365 days a year.