April showers for marathon day

Many competitors run the race in fancy dress

Bring a brolly is the advice for the half a million spectators due to turn up for the London marathon on Sunday.

Those watching along the 26.2 mile route and the estimated 33,000 taking part, may get wet early in the day.

But rain clouds are unlikely to dampen spirits at the annual event, which has recruited almost 40 bands and street entertainers to perform for the crowds.

Among the runners will be 93-year-old Fauja Singh from Essex, who took up marathon running five years ago.

And seven brothers from Northern Ireland are aiming to become record breakers.

The Florida-Jones family from County Londonderry are attempting to become the biggest group of siblings to finish the 26 mile trek.

Carnival atmosphere

Fortunately for spectators who get caught in the predicted showers, there are more than 80 pubs and bars lining the route.

The weather will improve as the day goes on Alex Deakin, BBC Weather Centre 'The most open race in years'

Of these pubs, 65 are taking part in the Flora London Marathon best dressed pub competition.

Landlords and landladies have been invited to join in the Marathon festivities by dressing up their pub, with banners, balloons and bunting and any other colourful decorations.

British weather

The establishment that is judged the best dressed wins a champagne dinner for two.

Around 50 of these pubs are linked to charities who have runners in the race. They are providing a base for the charity supporters to cheer on their families and friends

A spokesman for the BBC Weather centre, Alex Deakin warned: "It's likely to be a bit wet."

MARATHON FACTS AND FIGURES The oldest person to run a marathon was Greek Dimitrion Yordanidis in Athens in 1976 The first Olympic marathon was held in Greece in 1896 with 18 runners taking part The 1908 London Olympic marathon was extended by 385 yards to so it could finish in front of the Royal Box - it has remained the same ever since There are 76 pubs situated along the route of this year's London Marathon Abdelkader El Mouaziz won the 2001 race in two hours seven minutes and 11 seconds, running at around 13mph - faster than the average speed of a car in central London This year's entrants include a runner dressed as a giant cake and another wearing nothing but a hemp G-string

"Though the weather will improve as the day goes on.

"There will be outbreaks of rain throughout the day but it might be drier and brighter for the stragglers," he said.

"It's looking breezy for the runners and in a city environment you will get localised swirls of wind.

"Around buildings or coming round a corner you could turn into a headwind.

But he added it would not be "exceptionally windy" and nothing that British runners aren't used to.

Mr Deakin went on to say the skies will be grey rather than blue but the temperatures will be relatively warm for April at between 10 and 13 C.