A YANKEE doodle doddle! That's the aim of a 75-year-old Bury runner who is heading for Manhatten to compete in the New York Marathon.

And Benjamin Crook is confident he can give competitors half his age a run for their money.

Despite his age, and the fact he had a triple heart bypass five years ago, the plucky pensioner says he's ripe for the Big Apple event in November.

Benjamin, of Poynton Close, said: "I'm certainly hoping to finish, but you can't really tell until you set off."

He has already clocked up more than 50 years as a runner and raced regularly for Bolton United Harriers and Rochdale Athletic Club. Benjamin, now a member of Todmorden AC, runs 30-40 miles each week in training and has an overflowing trophy cabinet at home.

"Over the years, I've done cross-country and fell racing as well as 10-kilometre events. This will be my fifth marathon. I did my first one aged 55 and the others when I was 60, 65 and 72," said Benjamin. He's fighting fit after heart trouble forced him to curtail his running for four years. After bypass surgery in 1996 he was soon back in action.

"My best time for a marathon is 3hrs 10mins, which I'm pleased with," he says.

Benjamin, married with a son and daughter, will raise money for children with cystic fibrosis. Anyone who would like to sponsor him can write to 18 Poynton Close, Bury.