MARATHON man Tony Carter has completed his long-distance running career on a high note - by raising £2,238 for Bolton charity Vision Aid.

Tony, who celebrates his 60th birthday in September, has become a familiar figure, daily pounding the streets of Bolton town centre and around his home in Towncroft Lane, Heaton.

He has taken part in over 16 marathons, but decided to call it a day after this year's London Marathon.

He and his neighbour Chris Ball, a 20-year-old etates manager with Halifax Property Services in Bury, ran the race to raise cash for more vision stimulation equipment to help blind and partially-sighted children from all over the country who come to the charity's Bolton headquarters in Chorley New Road.

Carter Brown Insurances in Bradshawgate and other town centre shops helped sponsor Chris and Tony.

Tony is now giving up running eight miles each weekday and 15 miles at weekends.

"I'll cut it back to just a few miles a day," explained Tony. "Running is part of my life now and I can't give it up completely. But no more marathons - I'm getting too old!"

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