A HALESOWEN primary school teacher has raised over £1,600 for the NHS in Dudley after running a marathon on his street.

Thomas Budgen took on the fundraising challenge on Saturday to raise cash for the Dudley Group NHS Charity to aid frontline staff who are treating patients with Covid-19.

The reception teacher, who works at Lutley Primary School, ran 93 laps of his block around The Breeze off Moor Street in Brierley Hill on Easter Saturday (April 11).

The challenge saw him raise an impressive £1,617 for the NHS, smashing his original target of £500 to help the local NHS trust.

Thomas said: "Lots of the neighbours came out to cheer and support from a safe distance. It got pretty hot and there was next to no shade but I managed to finish strong and I wasn’t too dehydrated.

"I won’t lie, it was a hard day but I’m glad the money will go towards helping the NHS during these strange times."

Thomas was due to run both the Manchester and Brighton marathons this month before they were cancelled due to the pandemic.

Eager not to put his training to waste and keen to do something positive with his time in lockdown, Thomas decided to take on a marathon with a social distancing twist.

He added: "I have got friends and family working for the NHS, I am full of respect for them. However small, I just wanted to do something to help them."