A 35-year-old personal trainer raising money for a disabled girl completed the 10k London Bupa run in under an hour, just 12 weeks after an operation to both his knees.

John Behan, an ex-boxer from New Addington, had operations to repair torn ligaments in both his knees.

He raised £200 to take wheelchair-bound seven-year-old Ellie Killick, also from New Addington, and her family to Brighton for the day. He wanted to do something for her after a friend told him about her plight.

He said: “I only accepted the challenge 12 days ago and didn’t manage to do any training for it. I am an ex-boxing champion and the last time I ran on the road was four years ago when training for a fight.

“I decided this would be a more personal touch than giving the money to a charity and, as I have a disabled step-daughter I can relate to the strain this can put on a family.”

Mr Behan said his knees were strapped up for the race.