A select group of runners, including one from Chesham, will take part in their 40th London Marathon this year.

The 'Ever Presents' have participated in every single London Marathon since the race was launched in 1981 and the milestone 40th race on Sunday, April 26.

74-year-old Chesham man, David Walker, is in the group which was formed in 1996 which recognises those who have taken part in every marathon and gives them guaranteed entry.

It originally consisted of 46 runners but has dwindled every year and just 10 runners remain.

Charles 'Len' Cousens, aged 77, said: "In the early days, you had to queue up at the Post Office and you wanted to be first in the queue so you got there when it was still dark and camped out on the pavement.

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"You had to put your application in the post first. We used to queue out all night long to be the first one to put your application in.

"The first ones in managed to get in the marathon, so you did it that way, it was the only way to do it.

"After we had done the 15th, they said as long as you finish, you get in automatically. You have got a position if you want it."

The oldest Ever Present member, who was the oldest competitor in the 2019 event, is Ken Jones, 86, who lives in Northern Ireland.

Mr Jones, who used to finish in under three hours, but now walks the route which takes him more than seven hours.

The youngest is Chris Finill, 61, from Surrey, who finished in two hours and 59 minutes in 2019.

In 2018 he fell and broke his arm but still completed the remainder of the race with his right arm in a sling.

He finished in three hours and 54 minutes to retain his Ever Present status.

He said: "If you have done 37 London Marathons, you are not just going to walk away from the 38th."