A man who once ran the London Marathon in a deep sea diving suit will take 26 days to finish this year's race dressed as a snail.

Lloyd Scott, 49, will crawl the 26-mile course, which starts on 17 April, at about one mile per day dressed as Magic Roundabout character Brian the Snail.

The former professional footballer said he hoped to raise at least £200,000 for children's charity Action for Kids.

He has raised more than £5 million for charity by running marathons.

Mr Scott famously took five days to complete the 2002 London Marathon in a deep sea diving suit. He has also cycled across Australia on a penny-farthing.

But Mr Scott, who was awarded an MBE in 2005 for his charity work, said he expects this year's challenge to be one of his hardest.

"It's going to be a slow and painful process," he said.

"There is a sledge inside the outfit and I will drag myself around with my arms.

"Training has been very difficult. I have been using rowing and skiing machines to strengthen my arms."

Mr Scott will be accompanied around the course by other characters from the Magic Roundabout including Florence, Dylan and Zebedee.

The former Blackpool, Watford and Leyton Orient player fought off leukaemia more than 20 years ago.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/52441000/gif/_52441726_snail.gif

A London Marathon participant dressed in a snail costume is still going around the route - two weeks after the event took place.

Lloyd Scott, 49, from Watford, Hertfordshire, is averaging one mile per day dressed as Magic Roundabout character Brian the Snail.

The former professional footballer, began the 26-mile course on 17 April, and is about halfway around the route.

He is hoping to raise at least £200,000 for children's charity Action for Kids.

The former Blackpool, Watford and Leyton Orient player who fought off leukaemia more than 20 years ago, said the 26-day attempt had been tough on his knees.

He said he has also had to deal with muscle pain and cramp due to hauling himself face-down around the route in the 9ft costume for up to eight hours every day.

He added he was finding it nearly impossible to eat and drink en route because of lying on his stomach on a sled inside the costume.

I understand he has finished the London Marathon now, let me try and find a good report on it.

I've never heard of something quite that absurd.

I understand he has finished the London Marathon now, let me try and find a good report on it.


Action for Kids sacked him as a fund raiser a couple of weeks later.  Apparently he didn't raise enough money this year