A couple are dressing as rhinos to raise money for their conservation.

Paul and Fiona Cuddeford of Broad Lane, Hampton, raised nearly £4,000 for charity this year with their costumed capers.

On June 9 and June 10 Mr Cuddeford, 43, and Mrs Cuddeford, 44, tried out various sports at the Richmond’s Olympic open weekend including handball, tennis, basketball and volleyball.

They are currently competing in the Olympic Gold Challenge event, raising money for charity Save the Rhino.

The charity event sees participants try out a selection of Olympic sports throughout 2012.

This year, Mr and Mrs Cuddeford have completed in badminton, archery and rowing while dressed as rhinos.

Mr Cuddeford said: “I love rhinos, they are such wonderful animals. I remember as a child being taken to Windsor Safari Park and being allowed to pet rhinos.”

Rhinoceroses are endangered across the word, with fewer than 600 black rhinos left in Kenya.

They are much sought after as trophies and believed to be used as cures in traditional Chinese medicine.

This year Mr Cuddeford has completed the Brighton and London marathons in a rhino costume.

He also hoped to complete the London to Brighton cycle ride, the Windsor half marathon and the Beachy Head marathon in the outfit.

Save the Rhino director Cathy Dean said: “For most people, one marathon is enough. Very few do it in rhino costume, and that’s certainly enough.

“But Paul has clocked up four or five marathons – over 100 miles – in our hot, sweaty and cumbersome cozzies, and he seems keen to come back for more, including as many of the gold challenge events as he can conquer.

“He and his wife are great supporters - they even bake us rhino cookies when they visit the office -- and their support right now, when more than one rhino is killed every day by poachers, is really valuable.”

Visit savetherhino.org for more information.