MARATHON man Peter Rowley may still be nursing blisters, but he has enough energy left to celebrate after raising more than £25,000 for charity.

The chief executive of Darlington Building Society completed the Flora London Marathon earlier this month and has, so far, raised more than £12,000.

The sponsorship money is continuing to pour in and the cash will be matched pound for pound by The Tubney Charitable Trust, giving a grand total of more than £25,000.

The funds will be donated to Help the Hospices, the national charity for the UK hospice movement.

The money raised is in addition to the society's long-standing support of hospices in the region.

St Teresa's, in Darlington, Butterwick Hospice Care, in Stockton, Teesside Hospice Care, in Middlesbrough, and Hartlepool and District Hospice all receive cash through the society's Hospice Supporter Account.

Mr Rowley, who completed the 26 miles in three hours and 49 minutes, was joined at the society's Tubwell Row branch, Darlington, by St Teresa's Hospice director Jane Bradshaw to celebrate.

He said: "The response of people to support this worthy cause has been staggering and the generosity of all my sponsors spurred me on. The money raised is going to a great cause - carers of those coping with terminal illnesses need help and support too."

Chris Shaw, deputy chief executive for Help the Hospices, said: "The money will make a huge contribution to help local hospices."