'Bionic' woman Claire Lomas is first to finish Great North Run

Claire Lomas walked three-miles a day in a 'bionic suit' to cross the finish line Credit: PA

A pregnant mother who was paralysed in a horse riding accident was the first person to cross the Great North Run finish line.

Claire Lomas, 36, used a "bionic suit" to help her complete the famous half marathon, which this year saw 57,000 registered entrants from 177 countries.

Mo Farah's wife Tania was also among the racers on Sunday, having taken tips from her husband who raced ahead to a win in the elite men's race.

Mo Farah's wife Tania, left, competed in the race with her husband Credit: PA

Ms Lomas had set off before Farah and the elite male runners started their race - on Wednesday, to be exact, walking three miles a day, step by laborious step, with the help of her husband Dan.

The head start meant she could comfortably watch Farah cross the line himself, in a time of one hour and three seconds

Mo Farah has won the great north Run three years running Credit: ITV News

That means the four-time Olympic champion has won the race three years running, prompting former Newcastle United footballer Alan Shearer to quip that the people of Newcastle had erected a statue to commemorate the hat-trick.

In fact, the statue is of Shearer and is to be unveiled outside St James's Park on Monday in celebration of the Premier League's record scorer.

Farah, in his final strides towards the finish line, mimed kicking a ball and copied Shearer's trademark goal celebration.

And after the race said: "That celebration was for Shearer, I think he is a legend."