Penny Wilson said she was "as surprised as anyone" to win the recent Nottingham "Robin Hood" women's marathon.

Wilson, from Hatch Warren, Basingstoke, completed the run in 3hrs 10 mins to take the title - but originally hadn't intended running the Midlands circuit.

In the lead up to the London Marathon, while out running one day, she was bitten by a dog, an injury that resulted in antibiotics being required.

To make things worse, Wilson then caught a cold, which meant she had to pull out of the UK's leading marathon. However, so that her training didn't go to waste, she entered the later Nottingham event instead.

It proved a good decision as, in nasty conditions, Wilson, who runs for Fleet at club level, came home first.

Proud fianc Kevin Abbott said: "I was at the halfway stage when two Kenyan women came around the corner. I thought 'no surprise they're winning', but a few minutes later after passing me they came walking back.

"All spectators near me were asking 'what's happened?' But it turned out they were only running the half-marathon and had got lost, so weren't even in Penny's race. Then I saw Penny come into view, so I shouted to her she was winning."

Wilson added: "I couldn't believe it so I asked him to repeat what he said as I ran past. It certainly spurred me on when I heard I was in front."

Wilson maintained her pace to finish best lady out of 2,000 runners of both sexes taking part in the race.

She said: "I wasn't expecting to win at all, but was very pleased to, after what had happened with everything leading up to the London marathon."

Wilson has since been recuperating and has taken a holiday after her excellent achievement.