DAME Kelly Holmes has disputed claims that she turned down an offer to start Sunday’s London Marathon.

A report in The Times on Saturday, April 16 stated that the Olympic gold medallist had wanted £20,000 to stand as one of the official starters at the 25th Flora London Marathon.

But speaking at a visit to Long Mead Primary School, Tonbridge, Hildenborough’s Olympic star dismissed the reports, saying that her busy schedule would have made it impossible for her to attend the marathon anyway.

She said: "I was never going to start the marathon, and wasn’t even planning on being in the UK.

"I have a management team and they couldn’t agree to it - availability was the first thing. Money couldn’t be a factor because I wasn’t going to be here to do it in the first place.

"I’m disappointed about the newspaper stories, they are totally inaccurate."

Race director Dave Bedford was quoted by The Times confirming that Kelly had been asked to be the official starter, but that they had been unable to reach a financial agreement.