RUNNING mates Reverend Hugh Bearn and Police Superintendent Mark Granby will again be tackling this year's London Marathon together.

It will be the third time the vicar of St Anne's Church, Tottington, has taken part in the gruelling challenge and the second for the Rochdale-based police officer.

Mr Bearn will be using the annual race, run on April 17, to raise money for Sands, the stillbirth and neo-natal death society, while Supt Granby, from Walshaw, will be raising funds for Victim Support.

Mr Bearn said: "We are in training but the weather has been very bad and we have both had injuries, which are probably age-related. I am hoping to complete the marathon in three and half hours and beat last year's time of three hours 43 minutes."

But he added: "The main aim is to raise as much money for both the causes which are very important. Sands supports many families who have lost a child. My sister, Kathleen died within a few hours of being born and I have carried out funeral services for families of stillborn children or those who have died within hours of being born."

The duo say they have learned valuable lessons from last year's run. "A week before the marathon we both did a 21-mile run, which did not leave enough time for our bodies to recover. That is something we will not be doing again!," said Mr Bearn.

People wishing to sponsor the pair should ring 01204 88 3713.