A RUNNER from Ilminster went the distance this weekend by completing the London Marathon for a Parkinson's charity.

Richard Clifton, 51, raised over £500 for Parkinson's UK after finishing the 26.2 mile event in an impressive two hours and 57 minutes.

The charity hopes to raise £315,000 from the event to continue with research work to find a cure, improving the lives of the 127,000 people living with Parkinson's in the UK.

Paul Jackson-Clark, director of fundraising at Parkinson's UK, said: “I'd like to congratulate and say a big thank you to Richard for running the London Marathon for us.

"I hope that Richard will inspire others to sign up for one of our other running events that take place throughout the year.”

Richard was among 225 athletes who ran the marathon on the last day of Parkinson's Awareness Week.