THE widow of a Darlington magistrate has raised more than £3,000 for charity by running the New York Marathon.

Mother-of-two Melanie Albrighton, whose husband Ken died from cancer last November, aged 49, finished the race in under four and a half hours.

Mrs Albrighton, a physiotherapist from Middleton Tyas, near Darlington, decided to take part in memory of her husband and to raise funds for Yorkshire Cancer Research.

She took part with running companion Andrew Smith.

"The support has been incredible," she said.

"I'd really like to thank everyone who has sponsored me and particularly Andrew for running with me.

"It was wonderful, an absolutely amazing experience. It was 68F, which was 20 degrees higher than last year. I was not prepared for the humidity and all the hills, but it was magical."

Mr Albrighton, who left children Ryan and Natasha, was a physiotherapist and chairman of Wellfield Tennis Club, in Low Coniscliffe.