A DISTRICT council chief is in training for a marathon in Jamaica to boost research into a condition that his mother suffered from.

Andrew Dickens, head of cultural, leisure and commercial services at Wyre Forest District Council, has already run two marathons to raise funds for a charity which has helped his daughter, Marella. Andrew Dickens, head of cultural, leisure and commercial services at Wyre Forest District Council.

He took part in the London and New York marathons last year, raising more than £4,000 for the British Epilepsy Association.

Now he is in training for a gruelling 26-mile race in Jamaica, the first International Marathon to be held on the Caribbean island.

He hopes the December event will help him to raise money for research into diabetes.

"Hopefully I'll raise several hundred pounds for research and controlling the side-effects like kidney failure, which is what my mother died of," he said.

"My training is slightly behind schedule but I've got time to make that up. The only thing that really concerns me is running in such a hot environment."