A STOURBRIDGE woman has more than doubled her fundraising target after taking on the London Marathon.

Becky Webster, of Webster's florists in Wollaston, took part in Sunday's marathon - the hottest on record at 24°C - and completed the 26.2-mile course in five hours and 28 minutes.

Despite the soaring temperatures Becky was determined to cross the finish line of the iconic road race and her efforts have raised more than £400 for Stourbridge's Mary Stevens Hospice - more than double the amount she expected to coin in.

She said of her endeavour: “Nothing can prepare you for how hard the actual race is on the day and I'm so, so proud to have completed it.

"With the weather as well it ended up becoming very much a team effort, and I'd just like to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped me on the way round, both alongside me in the race and cheering from the side-lines.

"To have raised twice what I hoped to for the hospice on top of that really is humbling and I just hope the money can help make a difference to a family when they need it most.”

Charlotte Schofield, head of fundraising & lottery at the hospice, said: "What Becky's achieved simply can't be over-estimated and this is something she should be proud of for the rest of her life.

"It's a remarkable event which brings tens of thousands of people together in support of some truly inspirational causes, and we really are privileged to have been represented so proudly by Becky.

"She's absolutely smashed it, and the money she's raised will make such a huge difference to families relying on our care here at the hospice.”