A father has raised £5,000 for charity after he was inspired to run a marathon.

Charles Forbes, 47, of Empress Avenue in Woodford Green, ran the London Marathon yesterday (April 26) raising more than £1,500 over his target for chosen charity, the Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre in Bristol.

Mr Forbes decided to raise money for the centre, who provide care for his younger brother who was diagnosed with the condition 21 years ago, after losing five stone.

The father-of-three, who joined Slimming World in Westbury Road, Buckhurst Hill after stepping on the scales following a family holiday in September, completed the race in four hours and 17 minutes.

He said: "I am so pleased; the marathon went really, really well.

"I managed to raise a huge £5,000 for the MS therapy centre which is more than I could have ever hoped for.

"I set a £3,500 target and massively exceeded that.

"When I saw I had completed the race in four hours and 17 minutes I was so pleased as a friend completed it in four hours and 20 minutes nine years ago and that is what I wanted to beat.

"The weight I lost with Slimming World has not only hopefully helped my brother but also changed my life for the better.

"I am so pleased with how well the marathon went and I am overwhelmed with the money raised."