A Horwich runner's family was lucky to escape serious injury after being involved in a road accident -- as they watched him compete in the Manchester Marathon.

Ray Collett's wife, Barbara, daughter and grand-daughter, survived the collision with another car as they were trying to follow his progress by meeting him at each five-mile stage of the race.

Ray, aged 64, of Claypool Road, only discovered his family had been involved in the accident after crossing the finishing line.

He covered the gruelling 26-mile course in a personal best time of five hours and 18 minutes.

But his joy quickly turned to shock when he discovered his family had been involved in the accident.

The crash happened halfway through the marathon at a junction in Gorton, east Manchester, when they were involved in a collision with another vehicle.

Ray said: "I had no idea what had happened until my daughter's husband arrived at the finish line to tell me about the accident.

"They are all fine, but went to hospital to be checked over. The car is a write-off.

"My wife Barbara is bruised and I don't think Gorton is our favourite place now but, despite the accident, I did enjoy the marathon and was very pleased with the time I ran it in."

The father-of-four has now completed 14 marathons since undergoing a heart bypass operation and is a well known figure in the community thanks to his fund-raising efforts in aid of Horwich New Heart Club.

The Heart Club is busy raising funds for Wythenshawe Hospital's 'New Heart New Start' appeal to build a new dedicated heart and lung transplant ward.