HANNAH England says the decision to call time on her career was several months in the making.

The Oxford City AC member announced her retirement on Tuesday after more than a decade in senior athletics.

England, 32, competed at the London 2012 Olympics and won 1,500m silver at the 2011 World Championships in South Korea.

But the middle-distance runner had not reached a major championships since 2014 and admits the 2019 track season felt like the end.

She said: “I had a really honest think and knew it was my last season.

“It was quite emotional at the time, because it’s something I’ve done all my life and I’ve had so many people supporting me.

“I discussed it with my friends, training partners and coach.

“I’ve always loved training and competing, but it’s exciting to look forward to doing other things.”

It meant England could savour her last campaign of competitive athletics, where she still managed a third-placed finish at the British Championships in August.

She added: “I was very lucky to have known during the season, as for some athletes it’s taken out of their hands.

“It was quite a privilege to take it all in.”

England almost claimed a second World Championships medal in 2013, finishing fourth in Moscow.

The former Cherwell School pupil also raced at two Commonwealth Games and two outdoor European Championships.

Yet nothing compares to representing Team GB at London 2012, where she reached the 1,500m semi-finals.

She said: “London 2012 was very special. It was fantastic to have those results at the World Championships, but competing at a home Olympics was just amazing.”

It was the highlight of a career that began at City, where she caught the athletics bug.

And the Olympian credits the club with setting her on the path to forging a professional career.

She said: “I was really lucky to fall in love with the sport.

“Oxford City was definitely a fantastic foundation for me, it had that real nurturing atmosphere.

“I had a wonderful community that kept me in sport through

A-levels and my teenage years, when it seemed like there were a lot more interesting things to do.”

England hopes to use those experiences in the next stage of her life.

She has sat on several athletes committees and helped form the Birmingham Athletics Academy in the city she has been based in since the age of 18.

After bringing to an end her own career, the veteran wants youngsters to follow in her footsteps.

She said: “I absolutely loved my time in athletics, so it would be brilliant to ensure young athletes have the same experience.

“I think back to my time at Oxford City when I was 12 or 13 and I still transfer it to what I’m doing now.”