WORCESTER City Council's youngest councillor is training hard to fulfil a life-long dream to take part in the London Marathon to raise money for charity.

Coun Alex Kear, the 26-year-old Liberal Democrat member for Claines ward, is aiming to raise £1,200 for the Royal National Institute for the Blind.

He says part of the reason for wanting to help the charity is because his mother, Jan, is head of sixth form at Worcester's RNIB College, off Whittington Road, so he knows first-hand the good work the charity does.

"It is not one of those charities that features highly on the choice of people donating money," said Coun Kear, of Droitwich Road, who was elected in June 2004.

"They are really one of those charities that look to the London Marathon to keep funds going."

Coun Kear, who works as a project worker with the homeless, said he's already seen the benefit of training for around an hour a day, three or four days a week.

"So far I have lost over a stone," he said.

"I can run about five or six miles in an hour but I'm not aiming to run the marathon in any particular time.

"It's just a dream come true for me to take part."

Anyone who wishes to sponsor Coun Kear can contact him on 01905 339503 or 07950931301.