A SCIENCE teacher from Bromsgrove has raised thousands for the NSPCC after conquering the world’s toughest marathon.

George Browning took on the Marathon Des Sables – a 156-mile race across the Sahara Desert in Morocco with temperatures hitting 50C – and completed the superhuman week-long challenge on April 13.

The father-of-two, who is a science teacher at King Edward’s School in Edgbaston, said: “It was the most brutal race I have ever done.

"The scorpions and camel spiders kept on my toes, and the fifty degree heat was so debilitating I had to stop at checkpoints in the shade to avoid my core temperature rising too high and being pulled out of the race.

“Each stage offered a new challenge - endless high dunes, jebels, red hot salt plains, dried river beds or simply the vast distance with the longest stage being over 86km.

"It was certainly a once in a lifetime race and one which I won't do again soon but definitely which I would recommend to anyone with a sense of adventure.”

George became an experienced marathon runner after a knee injury from playing rugby.

He has previously taken part in a 100km night race and the Welsh 3000s Mountain Challenge which sees competitors climb all the peaks in Snowdonia.

He added: “I’m delighted and relieved that it’s all over as it was beginning to take over my life a little bit. I’m proud to have finished."

He has raised over £4,000 from the event alone and recently organised a charity rowing marathon - equivalent in distance to crossing the Atlantic Ocean - with pupils, parents and staff at King Edward’s School, taking the fundraising total to £18k.

The money raised will enable the NSPCC to tackle child abuse across the West Midlands and the UK through its service centres which offer therapeutic support to children, its Childline helpline and ‘Speak Out. Stay Safe’ schools service.

To donate, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/georgebrowning1.