Runners from the Dereham area are gearing up for next month's London Marathon - while another local athlete is in full training for a long haul in Luxembourg just a few weeks after feeling the pain in Spain.

Runners from the Dereham area are gearing up for next month's London Marathon - while another local athlete is in full training for a long haul in Luxembourg just a few weeks after feeling the pain in Spain.

Ian Odgers, who is a champion fundraiser for the Sense charity, completed a gruelling marathon in Barcelona in four hours 22 minutes and will compete in Luxembourg on May 3.

Nigel Hart, night manager at the Dereham Morrisons store, will take part in the London 26-mile run on April 13 just three days after his 45th birthday.

It will be the fourth time he has competed in the event and he is hoping to break the four- hour mark.

He is raising money for Phab Kids and aims to collect more than £2,000.

Anyone wanting to sponsor him can ring 0794 6362230.

There should be no missing Debbie Dawes, of Dereham, as she takes part in the London Marathon in a bumble-bee costume to raise money for the Priscilla Bacon Lodge in Norwich.

Her grandmother died at Priscilla Bacon Lodge, as did her best friend's mother, and she has been touched by the care given to patients.

Anyone who can sponsor her or give prizes for a tombola can ring her on 01362 692625.

Meanwhile, Perry Mann, an NHS finance manager from Dereham, will be competing as part of the Mr Men and Little Miss team, in aid of the leading UK charity Children With Leukaemia.

Perry, who will be 23 at the time of the marathon, will be running his third marathon and hopes to raise £1,000.