Farah, who retained his world 5,000 metre and 10,000m titles in Beijing last month, set a British and European record of 59 min 22sec.

But, while Keitany won by more than three minutes, he required all his finishing speed to see off the dogged challenge of Kenya’s Stanley Biwott, runner-up in last year’s London Marathon.

In a finish which replicated his last-gasp victory over another Kenyan, Mike Kigen, last year as he became the first male home runner to win this event in 29 years, the 32-year-old multiple champion moved clear over the final 150m, with Biwott clocking 59:24.

Farah thus became only the third winner of back-to-back titles in the elite men’s race, after fellow Briton Mike McLeod in 1981 and 1982 and Kenya’s Benson Masya in 1991 and 1992.

"The crowd were amazing," said Farah.

"If it wasn't for them edging me towards the end it definitely would have been a different result.

"I want to come back and see if I can do a hat-trick."

Keitany, who broke Britain's Paula Radcliffe’s record by one second as she won last year in 1:05:39, enjoyed a more comfortable morning as she won in 1:07:32, nearly three-and-a-half minutes ahead of British runner-up Gemma Steel, who clocked 1:11:00.

The 2012 London Marathon winner commented: "It's a really amazing day for me - love the city and the people here."

Six-time Paralympic gold medallist David Weir claimed a record-equalling sixth men's wheelchair title.

Fellow Briton Shelly Woods won her seventh wheelchair title after her main rival, leader The Netherlands' Margriet van den Broek, crashed near the end of the course after hitting a hay bale.

The 50,000 field were set on their way by Britain’s European 10,000m champion Jo Pavey, Kenya’s world 1500m champion Asbel Kiprop and England footballer Lucy Bronze.

Sadly, race organisers have confirmed that a runner taking part in the event has died. 

No further details have been released about the individual. 

"We deeply regret the loss of life of a participant," they said in a statement on Facebook.

The Great Run Company said its priority was to ensure next of kin had been informed. 



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