A Kent woman has set a new Guinness World Record after becoming the fastest woman to run the London Marathon “dressed as a fish”.

Sarah Haddock, from Hoo, completed the 26.2 mile route in a swordfish costume in under eight hours.

The 42-year-old said: “It was so hard, but an incredible experience that I will never forget

“I have sclerosis, and just after the 11-mile mark, I felt my toe break and so I was in agony for the rest of the run.

“It was incredibly emotional but the support I’ve received has been unreal – even a fist pump from Joe Wicks – and to get a world record on top is wonderful.”

She decided to take on the marathon to raise money for Spinal Research, a charity close to her heart, and surpassed her target of £4,000.

In October 2021, a freak accident in Corfu left her husband Paul paralysed from the neck down, and he was left with a serious spinal cord injury that left him a tetraplegic.

Paul was flown back to Medway Maritime Hospital three weeks later and then spent six months at the Stoke Mandeville Spinal Injuries Unit.

Sarah added: “We had both been working in retail, working crazy 70-80 hour weeks, to get us to the point where Paul could retire and we could go travelling, living the dream.

“But everything changed in an instant and now we are on a different path together.

“He was my first love. We’ve been together 20 years and I’m just so proud of him.”

Alongside being his evening carer, Sarah now works as a clinical support worker at Medway Maritime Hospital.

Spinal Research Chief Executive Louisa McGinn said: “Many congratulations to Sarah. What an achievement.

“We are always moved and motivated by the many ways our supporters find to fundraise for us.

“Like so many people Sarah and Paul’s life was changed in an instant by a spinal cord injury.

“Every single donation brings our vision of curing paralysis a step closer.”