A BURNLEY landlord is following in the footsteps of comedian Eddie Izzard by taking on an incredible marathon challenge.

Brian Parker, 52, is doing 12 marathons in 12 days in 12 different counties to raise funds for Pendleside Hospice.

The landlord of the Commercial and Craven Heifer has already raised around £6,000 for the charity before he set off on the marathon challenge this week.

Brian said: “I’ve done quite a bit of fundraising for Pendleside Hospice and last year someone asked me what I was going to do next.

“Eddie Izzard had just been in the news for his marathons so I said I would do 12 in 12 days and it has just stuck.

“I’ve been running about 10 miles a day but you can’t train at marathon distance, and you certainly can’t train to do 12 in as many days.”

Brian’s first marathon took place on Tuesday in Cheshire, before covering 26 miles in Staffordshire on Wednesday and Shropshire on Thursday.

He will also visit Hertfordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Northamtonshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire before finishing on May 28 in Lancashire.

He said: “I raise a lot of money for the hospice through the pubs and so far we’ve raised about £45,000.

“It is a fantastic local cause that relies heavily on fundraising, and I have had a few good friends go in and not come out.”

Brian completed his first marathon in just over six hours and his second in just under seven hours.

“It’s going to be difficult but I said I would do if I had to walk or hobble or do it on crutches,” he said.

“Just after the first marathon I had two massive blisters but I will get through it.”

To sponsor Brian visit www.justgiving.com/brian-parker-marathonman.