Former world and Olympic 110 metres hurdles champion Allen Johnson announced his retirement from athletics at the age of 39 on Saturday.

American Johnson, who won the Olympic title in Atlanta in 1996, made the announcement to the crowd at the Diamond League meeting in Gateshead, north east England.

"It's just come to the point where my body can't take it any more," he said in a trackside interview.

"Maybe I can coach some hurdlers or some sprinters...give something back," the four-times world champion added when asked if he was going to completely turn his back on the sport.

"I'm going to miss it, I really am but it was fun," he added.

Johnson had been due to compete in an event in Glasgow last Wednesday but pulled up in the warm-up.