FORMER world record holder and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Ron Hill has been presented with a special award for his contribution to athletics.

The ex-Bolton Harrier runner received a silver salver from St Ann's Hospice after he competed in the Joan Rhodes Memorial 5km race in Radcliffe last month.

The veteran athlete has been involved in the sport for 50 years, clocked more than 145,000km and ran in 85 different countries during his illustrious career. The 66-year-old from Radcliffe competed in three Olympic Games, European Games and the Commonwealth Games in 1970 - where he set the world record in the men's marathon.

He trains every day and in December this year will have run every day consecutively for the last 40 years. Mr Hill said he was delighted to receive the accolade from Radcliffe South Councillor Tony Cummings.

He said: "It was a nice gesture to receive the silver salver. I didn't expect to receive the salver so it meant a lot when I was presented with the prize."