Sir Roger said it was an honour and a tribute to sport as a whole

Sir Roger entered the record books by becoming the first man to run one mile in less than four minutes at Oxford University's Iffley Road sports ground on 6 May 1954.

A special 50 pence coin has now been produced by the Royal Mint to commemorate the historic event - which had almost been cancelled due to poor weather conditions.

The coin went on sale on Wednesday but will not go into general circulation until later this year when gold and silver versions will also be produced.

At the race track where he broke the record, Sir Roger said: "I regard it as an honour and a tribute, not just to me but really to sport as a whole and particularly running."

Sir Roger retired from running the same year he broke the record after graduating from Oxford University as a doctor.

After a career as a neurologist, he was knighted in 1975 and returned to Oxford 10 years later to become the Master of Pembroke College.