MORE THAN 1,800 people have logged on to donate to the charity page set up by a 30-year-old woman ahead of her London Marathon challenge which ended in tragedy yesterday.

Claire Squires, a hairdresser from Leicestershire, collapsed and died about a mile from the finish line on Sunday afternoon.

Organisers said that immediate medical attention was provided to the victim at Birdcage Walk but paramedics were unable to save her life.

Squires said she first decided to run the marathon “for fun” but later realised it was a “fab opportunity” to raise money for the Samaritans.

Hundreds of messages of sympathy have been left on the JustGiving website today, as well as over £22,000 in donations.

In a statement London Marathon organisers expressed their sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.

We would like to emphasise that our immediate concern is for the family of the deceased. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with them at this difficult time

No details about the cause of Claire’s death have been released as results of port mortem examinations are awaited.

About 32,000 people participated in the 26.2 mile race and there were no other casualties.