Paula Radcliffe will line up against five of the first six finishers at the Olympic Games when she chases a fourth win in next year's Flora London Marathon.

The British runner, who has missed the London race the past four years, heads a stellar field including gold medallist Constantina Dita, Catherine Ndereba and Zhou Chunxiu - the first three across the line in Beijing where the ill-prepared Briton had to settle for 23rd position.

The world marathon record holder also faces the defending champion Irina Mikitenko, who missed the Olympics through injury but saw her consistency over the last two years rewarded with victory in the World Marathon Majors Series worth £340,000.

Radcliffe now appears back to her very best and is is aiming to emulate her heroine Ingrid Kristiansen, the Norwegian who won the London event four times between 1984 and 1988.

The 34-year-old Bedford star's confidence was bolstered by her victory and third success in last month's New York race, where Kenya's Ndereba was just one member of a top-class field to be left trailing.

Radcliffe, the 2002, 2003 and 2005 champion, said: "It's fantastic to be back at the Flora London Marathon.

"It is an amazing event, with top-class fields and great crowds and I am really excited about next years race. I've missed the last three years through injuries and it was frustrating not to be fully fit for the Olympic Games this summer.

"But after my victory in New York last month, I'm hungry to win back my title and join Ingrid in the record books."

She added: "It is very important for me to win four times.

"Ingrid was an inspiration to me when I was a child and watching her win in London, on one of her victories, is a special memory."

Radcliffe has set world records in all three of her previous appearances on the London course and her time of two hours 15 minutes 25 seconds five years ago is still three minutes quicker than any other woman has achieved.

But such is the depth and quality of next spring's field, she is likely to be racing the opposition as much as the clock in April.

Joining Radcliffe will be fellow Britons Jo Pavey, the Commonwealth 5,000 metres silver medallist who will finally make her eagerly awaited debut over the distance, and the ever-improving Mara Yamauchi, who was sixth in the Olympic Games.

Race director David Bedford said: "We are delighted to welcome Paula back to the Flora London Marathon after an absence of four years. Her superb victory in New York showed that she is back to full fitness.

"Naturally, she is keen to regain her London title but this will be her toughest marathon yet. With nine women who have run quicker than 2:22, this is without doubt the best field we've ever assembled for the women's race.

"The array of former champions, record holders, world and Olympic champions means London will be treated to a spectacular demonstration of marathon running on 26th April."