A former Parachute Regiment soldier from Richmond is tackling a 100-mile ultra run to raise money for injured veterans this September.

Joel Whittaker, 39, aims to complete the Cotswolds Ultra Marathon in less than 30 hours, on behalf of charity Mission Motorsport, which aids the rehabilitation of injured veterans by providing opportunities through motorsport.

The ex-paratrooper, who served in Northern Ireland, Kosovo and the Gulf, has never run 100 miles in one go before, but is undaunted by the staggering distance ahead of him.

He said: "I did a 40 mile run this week and just got the one blister, so hopefully I won’t fall apart on the day. I’ve seen the terrain and it’s really hilly - the worst part will be tackling it once night has fallen."