Dad-of-one ready to run London Marathon... at his home in Burnley

Sounds impossible? Well not for dad-of-one Andy Higginson who plans to run the marathon around his own home and garden in Burnley on Sunday, the day when the event should have been held in the capital but was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Although organisers have said the marathon could be rescheduled for October Andy did not want his chosen charity, Pendleside Hospice, to have to wait so long for the money he is raising.

Andy (41) said: "I already have around £900 sponsor money online and around £500 that has been pledged so I felt it was important to honour that and get the money to the hospice."

Andy, who is dad to 10-year-old Archie, chose the hospice as a cause close to his heart.

His good friend and well known Padiham man Martin Simm was looked after there before his death in 2016. A keen Clarets fan and talented musician Martin launched his own successful band in the 90s called Pretend Girlfriend. Rodney Holland, the father of Andy's partner, Vicky Holland, also received care there.

Last year Andy, who works as a planner at Burnley's Futaba Manufac, took part in the Berlin Marathon to raise money for research into Prostate Cancer.

He has been in training for the London event, that attracts thousands of runners annually, who raise much needed cash that so many charities rely on.

And while Andy would expect to complete 26.2 mile event on the streets of London in around four-and-a-half hours he reckons it could take up to six hours at home due to space constraints.

To make a donation to Andy please click HERE.