Six-time Paralympic champion Weir, capped off a great week which saw him inducted into the Great North Run Hall of Fame by claiming his fifth victory in the race with a time of 43min 03sec.

The 34-year-old Londoner followed his compatriot Jonnie Peacock, who won the T44 100 metres race at the Great North CityGames in Newcastle yesterday, to round off his season on a high after an injury affected year saw him miss out on defending three world titles at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics World Championships in July.

Weir finished ahead of rival Josh Cassidy, who was looking to win the event for the third successive year, but mechanical problems early on meant that the Canadian was up against it and he eventually crossed the line in a time of 45:21, ahead of Spain's Rafa Botello Jiminez.

"I was quite cautious on the start because the roads were really greasy, since I've been back training all I have done is attack the hills so I just needed to see who was good on the hills or not,"said Weir, who has won the London Marathon on six occasions.

"Josh looked pretty strong but I knew I just needed to stay close to them and then I thought, 'Right I should go'.

"I think I went a little bit too early maybe as I've only been back pushing fully for two weeks.

"I just felt my lungs go a little bit but I got through that period and then it was very fast.

"It was a good test to see where I'm at.

"I surprised myself.

"I've only been back pushing for a couple of weeks so I'm really pleased with that time."

Shelley Woods punches the air in delight as she claims her fifth Great North Run title