Chris Hill Getting to work in the morning can sometimes feel like a marathon effort, especially during these dark winter mornings.

Chris Hill

Getting to work in the morning can sometimes feel like a marathon effort, especially during these dark winter mornings.

But for a Norfolk farmworker, the daily commute is just part of the training routine for a fundraising epic.

David Wroth, a crop sprayer at Holkham Farming, has decided to build his stamina for an attempt at the London Marathon, by running to and from work - a 15-mile round trip.

The 33-year-old is currently only making the journey in one direction between his home in Syderstone, near Fakenham, and his workplace more than seven miles away at Egmere, near Wells.

But as his training intensifies towards the start line on April 25, he aims to be running both to and from the farm within the next two weeks.

"I'm not sure how that will go down at work, because I will be exhausted," he said. "But everyone here has chucked in good amounts of sponsorship money, which is great.

"I sit down most of the day at work as a spray operator, so this is not only an opportunity for me to improve my health and fitness, but to also raise money for a charity that is close to our hearts."

Mr Wroth is running the 26-mile race alongside his fianc�e Michelle Hammond to raise money for Sense, a charity which supports deaf/blind people.

He said: "One of our close family members is blind so we know the value of a charity that provides support to deaf/blind people and their families."

Mr Wroth aims to beat his previous best marathon time of four hours 52 minutes by making regular training runs, some of which include the nearby grounds of Holkham Hall.

"It is a lovely place to do your training," he said. "Holkham have been fantastic in their support and I'm sure I shall get some beeping of horns as people pass me on my run to work."

Donations can be made at www.virginmoneygiving.com/ DavidWroth.