It would be the first time that the London Marathon has had male pacemakers in the elite women's race for 20 years.

Clare Elms, 62, outpaces every M65 man at the British Masters Cross Country Relays in Oxford while Birmingham University dominates in Manchester.

The 24-year-old ran without a watch to finish second in the second-fastest time by a German woman, while Amanal Petros was beaten by 20 seconds in the men’s race.

The 58:03 winner is the first Spaniard to take the half marathon title, as Sheila Chepkirui set a world-leading 1:03:51 and Laura Luengo broke the women’s national record.

Government to announce a full feasibility study on a “Northern Games” in the 2040s, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham saying the country should feel the excitement again in its own towns and communities.