A HOSPICE garden provided an unusual Great North Run setting for one man who raised almost £1,000 by completing 48 laps of the grounds.

Ben Bourne ran 13.1-miles round St Teresa's Hospice's grounds on Sunday due to the official Great North Run not being cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Mr Bourne called his attempt, ‘The Great North Woodlands Run’ and he was presented with a trophy by the Deputy Mayor of Darlington Council, Cyndi Hughes when he finished the challenge.

Mr Bourne, who lives in Darlington and works at St Teresa's, had secured a place on the official run this year and decided to do an alternative when it was cancelled.

He said: "Working there I fully appreciate how much the charity relies on fundraising events which were all wiped out by Covid.

"It has been a real blow to the hospice.”

He added: “Then we measured out a track in the lovely grounds and realised we could complete the distance in around 50 laps and still raise much-needed funds for St Teresa’s."

So far, Mr Bourne's just giving page has attracted an impressive £920 in donations and his progress along the run was followed by hospice supporters on facebook.

Hospice chief executive Jane Bradshaw said: “I’m in awe of people’s resourcefulness in adapting to the rigors of living through a pandemic and the support we have received has been astounding.

“We are thrilled to be hosting our very own Great North Woodlands Run and are so appreciative of Ben’s efforts.”

Anyone wanting to donate can visit this fundraising page.