Bicester mayor Lawrie Stratford and his wife, Rose are getting in training for their latest charity exploits.

Mr Stratford, 58, will be running in his seventh London marathon in April, and his wife, 63, is making her second tandem parachute jump at RAF Weston-on-the-Green, on a date to be fixed.

Both hope to boost their Bicester mayoral year fund for their chosen charities: Bicester Community Hospital League of Friends, and the Sir Michael Sobell House, in Oxford.

Mr Stratford said: "I took up running when I got too old for Sunday morning football."