A GRANDFATHER who has completed every Great North Run has been training with a former Spice Girl for this year’s half-marathon.

George Nicholson, of Shadforth, near Durham, joined Mel C for a training day at Gateshead International Stadium.

The 65-year-old is part of Mel C’s fundraising squad as she tries to raise more money for charity by running the Great North Run than Olympic gold medal winning sprinter Iwan Thomas does by running the Great South Run.

Mr Nicholson has raised more than £10,000 for Acorn’s Children’s Hospice, in Birmingham, since his granddaughter, Emily Hart, died aged five of metachromatic leukodystrophy, a rare degenerative disorder, shortly before Christmas 2006.

He said: “Even after doing the Great North Run every year for three decades, I still get excited about it.

“I hope that being part of Team Mel will help spur me on to raise even more money for a charity that is so close to my heart.”

To sponsor Mr Nicholson, text ‘GGNR81 £2’ to 70070. Texts are free, the whole donation will go to charity and Gift Aid can be claimed.