FITNESS fanatics in Kidderminster took part in their own version of the London Marathon and raised over £1,000 for a multi-million pound appeal.

Nine members and staff from Banana Fitness and Health, based at the Glades Leisure Centre, rowed marathons and half-marathons at the same time at the London event was taking place.

They hope to have raised around £1,200 - £200 more than their initial target - for Kemp Hospice's £2.2million centre which should be up and running by March next year.

Two Banana staff members, Sarah Leonie and Amanda Dobb, completed half-marathons while Fitness and Health manager Andrew Ebbage joined six Banana members to row full marathons.

First to complete the marathon distance was James Smith in two hours 53 minutes with five of the team finishing in less than three hours. Rob Goode was last in three hours 19 minutes.

Mr Ebbage said: "We trained very hard and there were a lot of aching limbs and sore backsides due to being on the rowing machines for such a long time but we are delighted that we not only reached but surpassed our goal."