A grandmother who only took up running after being drawn to run in the London Marathon completed the famous course and raised over £2,000 for a worthy children’s charity.

Beth Taylor-Lloyd, from Ruthin, had never run a marathon before but was drawn out in the ballot last year and had been training for six months ahead of this month’s event.

The 42-year-old legal assistant with leading North Wales law firm Swayne Johnson completed the 26 mile 385 yard course in six hours and was blown away by the experience.

Beth, who has a daughter, Alex, a son, Cai, and a six-month-old grandson, Tommy, said: “Running it was much more pleasurable than training for it. It was mesmerising. There were people all along the route.

Beth, from Parc y Dre, Ruthin, raised over £2,000 for Hope House/Ty Gobaith, the charity for life-limited children, young people and their families from Shropshire, Cheshire, North and Mid Wales.

That included a donation of £250 from her employers, Swayne Johnson.

Beth chose Hope House/Ty Gobaith after her first grandchild, Tommy, was unwell when he was first born and was in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd’s Special Care Baby Unit.

He made a full recovery and went home with mum Sera and dad, Beth’s son, Cai Davies and Beth said: “It brought it home to me how important Hope House/Ty Gobaith is and that’s why I chose them.”

“My husband, Gareth Lloyd, was there and walked about 12 miles supporting me along various places on the course. A text would come through on my Fitbit telling me where he’d be so we could wave to each other.”

“People have been so generous though and Swayne Johnson have been great and the Farmers’ Arms in Ruthin where I work behind the bar even held an event for me and Llandyrnog Community held a coffee morning in the Cocoa Rooms.”