FIFTY-THREE year old Mark 'Bez' Berry from North Devon broke the South West Coast Path record which stood at 14 days six hours by a massive margin recently.

Mark completed it in 11 days eight hours and 15 minutes, starting from Studland Beach Dorset and finishing in Minehead.

Mark only started running in 2012 and discovered he was actually quite good at it. Fantastic support from his wife Lorraine, Ally Ratcliffe, David Carr and other friends and family who joined him along the way helped to keep him going.

Having covered 500 miles and after another particularly gruelling day on the north cornwall coast path the Wellington Hotel in Boscastle was a very welcome sight for Mark.

Owner John Scott and head chef Kit Davis were keen to support such a worthy cause and refuelled Mark with superb 'Welly' burgers — and they clearly worked!

Mark ran the course to promote awareness for mental health for the charity called CALM (Campaign against Living Miserably). So far he has raised almost £8,000 and his just giving page is still open for donations — http://www.justgiving.com/CALMSWCPchallenge">www.justgiving.com/CALMSWCPchallenge.

For the full report, and a round-up of the area news and sport, see this week's edition of the Post.