HAVING already covered hundreds of miles, all carrying the 'burden' of a bicycle on his back, an Oxfordshire man is setting his sights on one of the world's biggest races.

Shaun Scott, 47, only started running last April but has already become a world record holder and has raised thousands of pounds to help firefighters.

He is now in training for the London Marathon on April 22.

The doctor who works at the Churchill Hospital describes himself as a 'concerned citizen' and was moved to do something in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

He said: "Our firefighters risk their lives and put themselves under immense physical and mental pressures in order to help others.

"What really struck me at the time was that the hundreds of firefighters who went to Grenfell knew that the structure could collapse at any minute and yet they all choose to enter anyway to do what they could to save lives."

The father-of-two, who lives in the village of Forest Hill, near Headington, has become a recognisable figure at the Cutteslowe Park Run due to his unusual choice of running gear.

He had the 15kg bike on his back as he completed the Blenheim Palace 10k and Oxford Half Marathon last year.

Mr Scott is now awaiting confirmation from Guinness World Records that his four hours, 51 minutes time running the Gloucester Marathon on Sunday January 14 is a world record for fastest marathon whilst carrying a bike.

He uses two different bikes, one has to be strapped to his shoulders and waist using a harness structure, the other he just carries with his arms.

He said: "The bike is supposed to symbolise the burdens carried by our firefighters.

"It is intended as a spectacle to get people talking.

"I quite like the idea of the irony of a fully-working bicycle being carried, rather than ridden.

"I hope it symbolises the wasted potential of our fire fighters dealing with things like post traumatic stress disorder."

Mr Scott is aiming to raise £10,000 for the Firefighters Charity who support members of the fire service if they are injured, ill or in need of psychological support.

To support his cause go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/giveitupforfirefighters.