A BASINGSTOKE athlete did a lap of honour before kick-off at the Camrose, having run 18 miles in aid of Children in Need.

Keen runner Norman Adcock, 58, pulled on his trainers to run from Reading FC’s Madjeski Stadium to the home of Basingstoke Town and arrived just before the recent home game against Welling United.

Waiting to greet the runner, who took part in his 23rd marathon this summer, were his wife Sharon, two daughters-in-law Shona and Sam and his grandchildren, Paige and Liam.

Mr Adcock, from Kempshott, Basingstoke, said: “It went really well, I was actually ahead of schedule so I went into the War Memorial Park for a while so that I didn’t arrive too early.”

He added: “It’s an idea I had three or four years ago but a close friend and a series of other incidents inspired me to do it this year.”

Through sponsorship from colleagues at Group4Securicor, where he is a driver and courier, Mr Adcock collected about £150 for Children in Need.