An intrepid runner from Putney Heath will attempt to run 20 marathons on consecutive days, in a bid to raise £5,000 for Cancer Research UK.

Border Force employee Jon Carson has been fundraising for 18 years and this year decided he wanted to raise money for the charity after losing family members and his line manager to cancer.

Since taking up the challenge, Mr Carson has been running six to 13 miles a day through Wimbledon Common, Thames Towpath and Richmond Park.

"My wife is a nurse at Chelsea and Westminster [Hospital] where she sees the devastating effects of cancer on an almost daily basis," Mr Carson said.

"It’s now estimated that nearly half of us will be diagnosed with one form of cancer or another.

"That statistic in itself is such a sobering thought.

"Currently, certain cancers such as pancreatic, if not diagnosed early, have lamentably low recovery rates. "

Mr Carson also said that he has ran in more than 260 marathons which means he knows what to expect when he starts his challenge.

He says that his Achilles injury has been the most challenging aspect of his training as well as bad weather conditions.

But he said that his Spotify playlist helped him to overcome all challenges and stopped him from experiencing boredom.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Mr Carson has now decided to complete the marathons alone and is urging residents to stay at home rather than go to Richmond Park to show support.

Instead, he is encouraging people to show their support by making a donation to his Just Giving page.