The pound rose to its strongest level in a month against the dollar as the fastest increase in Britons’ wages since 2011 had traders rushing to reassess how soon the Bank of England may raise interest rates.

NATIONAL champion, Sergiu Ciobanu shaved 20 seconds off the course record which he set last year to retain the Bord Gáis Energy Cork City Marathon title yesterday in 2:25:34 and now sets his sights on Olympic qualification.