FOR most pensioners, retiring is all about putting your feet up, rather than forward.

But for Rishton man Colin Cooper, retirement has simply given him more time to get on with his favourite pastime - running.

And now he plans to celebrate his 70th birthday by holidaying in New York - so he can take part in the city's famous marathon.

Colin, veteran of six London Marathons, will fly out to the American city in November, celebrate his birthday one day, and be up early the next to join tens of thousands of runners on the slog round the Big Apple.

Colin, who spent his working life at GEC in Clayton-le-Moors, revealed he was looking for a challenge when he came across the marathon. He said: "I wanted to do something to raise money for Newfield School, Blackburn and Derian House because a relative has cerebral palsy and uses both places."

"After my sixth London Marathon I decided I wasn't going to do another one, but then I saw the New York Marathon was taking place a day after my birthday and it seemed too much of a coincidence.""I took up running in my mid-40s because I realised I needed to do some exercise. During the winter months I would put in for some organised event to motivate myself to train on cold nights and that's how the marathons started appearing for me.

"I've done lots of organised races such as the Great North Run on Tyneside and I am really looking forward to going to America."

It will be only the second time Colin has gone to the United States, having previously visited Atlanta on business in the 1950s. Colin said: "It should be an exciting time to be there because the elections will be in full swing. Most people have been really supportive and said they will sponsor me, most people who know me weren't surprised at all when I said I would be doing this. It'll be a birthday to remember."

When he's not training, Colin is secretary of the Prospects Foundation. Improvements on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and creation of Parker Street Community Garden and Jubilee Gate have been due in part to his hard work, said chairman John Wells.