Amputee soldier to run marathon

Mr Sandford says he plans to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in six months

A former soldier from Dorset is aiming to be the first person to complete the London Marathon while on crutches with one leg.

John Sandford-Hart, 43, of Mudeford, lost the use of his right leg in a boating accident seven years ago, but only had it amputated in February.

The former Territorial Army soldier has previously completed three marathons on crutches with two legs.

He is raising money for Help for Heroes which supports servicemen and women.

The charity was launched in October 2007 to raise £6m for a new gym and swimming pool at Headley Court, near Epsom.

'Hop it'

The original target was reached in eight months, and it is now aiming to improve other facilities for wounded service personnel and their families.

Mr Sandford-Hart, who hopes to complete the marathon within 10 hours, said: "I've run the marathon three times before on crutches but I've always done it with two legs.

"I was entered for this year's event but my surgery date came a bit early… I thought, if I can run it on two legs with crutches I might as well hop it on one"

In six months he plans to scale Mount Kilimanjaro for the charity Help for Heroes.

Guinness World Records has told Mr Sandford-Hart he would be the first person to complete the race on crutches with only one leg.

In 2007, Angus Macfadyen set a world record for the fastest marathon on crutches.

The 35-year-old could only use his right leg and "hopped" round in a time of 7 hours and 17 minutes.