East Devon to host women-only marathon this year

Olympic athlete Jo Pavey will be starting what's thought to be the first women-only marathon in the country.

The event will take place in East Devon in six months' time, marking 50 years since the first woman ran in the all-male Boston marathon.

The "Woman Can Marathon" will start and finish in Tipton St John, and will take in the Sid and Otter valleys along with the towns of Sidmouth and Ottery St Mary.

Great Britain's Jo Pavey drives to the finish during the Women's 10000m final at the Olympic Stadium on the seventh day of the Rio Olympics Games, Brazil. Credit: PA

Local resident Jo Pavey helped launch the event. She spoke to Kylie Pentelow about why it was so important to have a women's only marathon.