A TOWN planner completed a 55-mile run around the edge of Bolton with his wife in less than a day — just five months before he is due to turn 70.

Paul and Brenda Sedgwick tackled the challenge on Saturday and Sunday in a bid to raise cash for the Christie Hospital.

The grandparents, both members of Burnden Road Runners, did a lap of the borough — missing a night's sleep — in 22 hours and 15 minutes.

The route, which started and finished at Daisy Hill, and which encompasses Ringley Bridge to the east and Blackrod and Rivington to the north west, took in climbs of nearly 4,000 feet.

Mr Sedgwick said: "We needed a cold drink and a lie down after — what with having missed a night's sleep.

"We've got some sore feet now after all that walking and running, but we did it in good style and are very pleased with the outcome.

"We couldn't really do that much running because the ground in the countryside was so wet.

"We got so much support and people wishing us well that giving up was never an option but we did not come close to that anyway."

A member of Bolton Daybreak Rotary Club, Mr Sedgwick and his wife have raised £3,000 so far, all of which is going to the Christie.

Mr Sedgwick added: "The Christie does great work in treating cancer and we have got a lot of friends who have benefited from that."

The couple, who live in Harwood, have two daughters and three grandchildren, 10-year-old Josie, Caitlin, aged eight and 18-month-old Jenny.

The eldest two are already keen runners and have taken part in cross-country treks with their grandparents.

Mr Sedgwick is the oldest finisher of the Bolton Hill Marathon and is now training for the Lakeland Trails 110km race in June

Both he and his wife defied their weariness to be back at work on Monday morning.

They moved to Bolton in 1977 from London when Mr Sedgwick got a job with Bolton Council, and they now both work at Sedgwick Associates, his private planning consultancy.

He said he has no plans to retire, with this his 50th year working as a town planner.

He added: "The job is still very interesting and challenging and I enjoy it. When you like something, why would you give it up?"

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/paulsedgwick50 or post a cheque to Treasurer, Rotary Club of Bolton Daybreak, 4 Blairmore Drive, Ladybridge, Bolton.