The 35-year-old world marathon record holder was also particularly keen to return to the event, relishing the challenge of matching the achievement of her mentor Ingrid Kristiansen, winner of the race four times between 1984 and 1988.

Radcliffe knew it would have been her toughest ever London Marathon with last summer's three Olympic medallists Constantina Dita, Catherine Ndereba and Zhou Chunxiu in opposition, despite proving her calibre with victory at the New York Marathon last November.

But once more she is sidelined after sustaining an injury to her right second toe, having earlier recovered from a ganglion on the same foot which the medical staff said caused the foot mechanics to alter.

"I am considering surgery to get myself totally healthy as soon as physically possible and ultimately prevent the bunion causing any future problems," said 2002, 2003 and 2005 London champion Radcliffe, who set her world record of two hours 15 minutes 25 seconds in London six years ago.

Race director David Bedford said: "I feel desperately sorry for Paula that she will miss competing against what will still be a stunning field and we wish her all the best for a speedy recovery.

"Even without Paula, however, the elite women's field is still one of the strongest we've ever had in London and I am sure the race will be a superb spectacle."

Bedford added: "We've got five of the first six from the Olympic marathon competing and given that strength in depth, it would have been no certainty she would have won.

"What is important now is that she gets back running as quickly as possibly and her priority must now be to get fully fit - hopefully for the World Championships."

Radcliffe will now be praying she can make a quick recovery and not be involved in a race against the clock for the championships in Berlin in August, after her fight to be fit for the Beijing Olympics ended with her finishing a disappointing 23rd.