AN Oswaldtwistle couple ran the Edininburgh marathon in memory of their baby son.

Philip and Maxine Morton raised hundreds of pounds for Burnley General Hospital’s neonatal unit after taking part in the event.

The couple, who are members of Accrington Road Runners, spent hours training for the UK’s second biggest marathon which saw Philip finish in 3hrs 18mins and Maxine in 4hrs 34mins.

Nursery teacher Maxine and plasterer Philip said they felt compelled to help other premature and seriously ill babies in memory of the child they lost, baby Philip, in 1996.

The infant had a brain condition so rare doctors had no name for it.

However, they said it was immediately apparent he would not survive.

Philip had fits due to the condition and lived for just two weeks.

Philip, 39, said: “He never came home. They told us that his brain just had not formed properly, but he was perfect to look at.

“Maxine had gone in for a normal delivery. When he was born he was rushed to neonatal intensive care.

"They knew straight away and told us that he wouldn’t make it.”

The couple have spent the past five months training for the marathon, which took place in torrential rain and high winds on May 22, and have raised £300.

Philip said: “We spent hours training and took long runs down the canal. One time we went so far that we found ourselves in Botany Bay.”

The dad-of-three added: “I was unsure if my ankle would get me through as I had twisted it two weeks previously.

"It had settled but flared up again the night before.

“With the ankle strapped, I was still unsure how it would be.

"It was painful to begin with but settled and I managed to block it out somehow.”