A WINDOW cleaner aged 65 who has completed 45 marathons for charity says he will keep running until one of his legs drops off.

Tony Bell, of the Bramleys, Rochford, has done all the races in the past 14 years.

In that time, Tony has run as many as four marathons a year, as well as completing countless other charity runs.

He has also taken part in several ultra marathons – the longest a gruelling 50-mile event in South Africa, which he took almost 12 hours to finish.

Tony credits his window cleaning, as well as a tough exercise regime, for his incredible fitness.

He said: “My job has supported the running as it has kept me active and outdoors.

“Sometimes I’m dead on my feet at the end of a hard day and the last thing I want to do is go for a run, but I always go.”

Over the years Tony has raised money for a number of charities.

His brother died of leukaemia aged just four and his sister died of cancer aged 36, and he said their deaths have helped motivate him.

He said: “They both died young and that sort of gave me the spark.

“Their memory is always in the back of my mind and I think it pushes me along.”

His next undertaking is the Run the Beat Half Marathon in London, on September 27, and at just 13 miles it should be a stroll in the park for Tony. He is running in support of Little Havens Hospice children’s hospice, in Thundersley, and anyone who wishes to make a donation should e-mail TonyBell8@yahoo.co.uk Tony will also run the London Marathon next year, fitness permitting, and has no plans to hang up his running shoes.

He said: “I will take each run as it goes.

“You know in your heart when to pack something in, but I think I’ll keep on running until one of my legs drops off.”