Blackpool paralympic hero Shelly Woods narrowly failed to secure her third medal of the games finishing an agonising fourth in the marathon.

The wheelchair athlete, who in earlier events won a silver and bronze in 1,500 metres and 5,000 metres respectively, completed the gruelling 26 miles just four seconds behind the Swiss winner Edith Hunkeler.

Shelly, who at just 22 has a stellar career ahead of her, will now set her sights on the 2012 London games, with a bold showing on home soil expected.

She clocked a time of 1hr 40mins 03secs on the flat but difficult course and just missed out on the gold in an incredibly tight finish.

Shelly, who was the youngest competitor in the final, told the BBC: "I did everything well, they just had more speed in the finish."

Earlier in the games Shelly, who works for Blackpool Council, had to hand back a 5000m silver she won in her first final when organisers decided it needed to be re-run after a crash involving around half the field in the penultimate lap.

She gained a bronze in the re-run of the race.

No her attention will be focussed on home soil glory in four years.

She said "To win two medals at my first Paralympics is fantastic, beyond my wildest dreams.

“I think the team have done a fantastic job, but hopefully in 2012 we can do better."

In her other event, the 800 metres, Shelly finished in fifth position.