Visitors and athletes are descending on London today for the London Marathon.

More than 37,500 runners – including athletes, joggers, celebrities, world record breakers and charity fundraisers - have registered to participate in the 2012 Virgin London Marathon.

Well over 36,000 runners are expected to cross the finish line in The Mall at the end of the race today with the weather predicted to be cool and showery.

The mass race, led off by the elite men, is starting at 9.45am, 45 minutes after Olympic medallist Dorothy Tyler sets the elite women on their way from Blackheath, and 25 minutes after the men’s and women’s wheelchair races begin.

Runners are competing for total prize money of $313,000 and precious places in their nations’ Olympic teams – for the Games taking place in the summer.

Participants will be running through the capital’s streets hoping to hit their own personal targets.

Prince Harry will present trophies to the top three finishers in the elite men’s, women’s and wheelchair races.

Over the next few months London will remain in the spotlight with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations and the London Olympics 2012 drawing ever closer.