Mayoress of Swindon Babara Parry, herself a borough councillor, and the MP for South Swindon Robert Buckland, the Lord Chancellor, will take off their robes and chains of office and don running shoes to benefit two local charities.

They shall both be running in the Swindon half-marathon on Sunday September 22 to benefit this years mayor's charities; CALM (Children’s Cancer And Leukaemia Movement) and Swindon & North Wiltshire Deaf Children’s Society.

Barbara said: “This will be a major challenge for me, I have two dodgy knees but whether I run, walk or crawl, I am determined to complete the half marathon within the 3.5 hours, come what may, I will go the distance, my knees will not get the better of me.

“Both charities were carefully selected as they are local and all money goes to supporting the children”

To support the pair and six others running for the charities visit justgiving.com/teams/TheMayorsCharitiesSwindon2019-20