THE blisters may not have long healed - but Swindon folks are being urged to get their running shoes on for next year's London Marathon.

Places are available on the NSPCC’s 2016 Virgin Money London Marathon Team and anyone interested in taking part can follow in the footsteps, quite literally, of Ashley Cain and Greg Wells.

The Swindon runners are calling on other local people to join Team NSPCC in trying to raise £2.3 million to help answer every child who contacts its ChildLine service.

The NSPCC has been chosen as the official charity partner for the world’s most iconic race in 2016, a year that also marks 30 years of its ChildLine service.

Ashley, 34, director of a sales and letting agency and father of one, said: "This will be my first marathon and I decided to run for the NSPCC because I believe that children shouldn’t be in danger, ever, end of."

Greg, 58, health and safety director and father of two added: "I’m a regular donator to the NSPCC. It’s a very worthy cause and I had great support around the course in 2015 so I’m looking forward to the same next year."

Kirsty Joanes, NSPCC fundraiser, said: "It’s fantastic that in this milestone year, we’ve been chosen to be the official charity of the Virgin Money London Marathon and with runners like Ashley and Greg in Team NSPCC, it will be our biggest and best team ever.

"When a child contacts ChildLine to tell us they’re being abused, feeling suicidal or are in danger we take immediate steps to make them safe. But right now we can only help three out of every four children who try to contact us, and that is why we need local runners to sign up and support us.

"Every step, every mile, will help us keep every child safe.”

Every runner who signs up will receive a welcome pack, running vest, expert training and fundraising advice. On the day, there will also be a post-race reception, with refreshments and a massage for all NSPCC runners to enjoy.

Kirsty added: “If you’ve entered the ballot, and find out that you’re successful in getting a ballot place, then the NSPCC would still love you to join Team NSPCC as an own-place runner.

"You will receive the same support as the rest of the NSPCC’s runners and benefit from knowing that all your hard work will help keep every child safe."

If you would like to be part of Team NSPCC, apply for a guaranteed place now at www.nspcc.org.uk/londonmarathon.