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Paula Radcliffe is to compete in her first marathon since the birth of son Raphael in 2010 after announcing that she will run in Berlin on 25 September.

"Berlin has been on my wish list a long time," she said.

"I was thinking of running it since I was pregnant as I didn't want to wait too long before my marathon return."

The 37-year-old, whose last marathon was New York in 2009, made her comeback in a 10,000m road race in London in May, describing it as "a disaster."

But women's world marathon record holder Radcliffe said she had recovered from the back problem that affected her performance in London where she finished third.

Radcliffe said the nature of the Berlin course had also played a part in her decision to run there. "I am aware Berlin is fast and a lovely course and this was a factor," she added.

Her biggest rival in the German capital will be local favourite Irina Mikitenko, a two-time London marathon winner who also won in Berlin in 2008.

Men's world record holder Haile Gebrselassie is the star attraction of the Berlin men's race, which is considered among the fastest in the world because of its flat course.