An Ashby man has completed a marathon by running 240 times up and down the road where he lives - dressed up as Mrs Brown!

Richard Bebbington was to have taken part in the London Marathon today (Sunday) but the event was rescheduled until October due to the Coronavirus restrictions.

So he decided to run the 26-mile distance anyway in fancy dress - and with the support of his neighbours in Windsor Road.

And it was all in a good cause as he was raising money for Leicestershire charity Wishes 4 Kids- an organisation he and his wife Ange have a long standing connection with.

Richard, who is also there race director for the annual Ashby 20 race, explained the reasons behind his marathon effort which began at 7am and saw him finish in warm conditions.

And his run attracted support from neighbours and few people who came along to urge him on while respecting social distancing measures.

Richard told Ashby Nub News afterwards: "I feel better now it's over!

"I would've been running in London but I decided to still go ahead with it in the garden and drive in Windsor Road.

"A lap was up and down the garden, around the end of the cul-de-sac and back around the garden then around the cul-de-sac again.

"I did it 240 times and never once left the cul-de-sac.

'The support was unbelievable. People got to hear about it and came down to pip their horns and even bang drums.

"It was really good. And what was surprising to me was that it gave the neighbours something to look forward to because of the unusual circumstances these days.

'I said to one of the neighbours that I couldn't believe I was the only live sport around at the moment!

"Most of them knew in advance what I was planning."

Richard also explained his choice of fancy dress as the TV character Mrs Brown.

He added: "We had a fancy dress run as part of the Ivanhoe Runners Christmas event and I this year I happened to wear a Mrs Brown outfit.

"And my intention was to run the London Marathon in the same outfit.

"So I just carried that on. For the neighbours it creates a bit of interest rather than someone just running up and down the drive."

And Richard added that he felt it was important to do the run after entering the London Marathon in aid of his charity.

"I wanted to do it for the charity who myself and my wife have supported for many years now, raising many thousands of pounds," he explained.

"It's a long standing connection. We've cycled to Rome from Ashby, we've cycled from Land's End to John O'Groats, trekked to Everest base camp and organised other events.

"Whatever we raise goes direct to the charity and we cover our own costs."

You can donate to Richard's chosen charity HERE: Wishes 4 Kids

And while the charity side of the run was Richard's driving force, he did manage to record a time as well.

He said: "That's how I know it was exactly a Marathon, as I did it all on the watch.

"The time was 4hours 50mins, but that was sort of irrelevant, it was more important to complete the distance.

"My wife arranged the refreshments, drinks and supplements that sort of thing, it was all done as if it was a Marathon.

"I could've run the London Marathon in October, but there as an option to run then, or defer it to next year, and I chose to defer to.next year."